Top news items in major Zambian media outlets

The following are news highlights in Zambia's major media outlets on Tuesday.

-- The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has suspended passenger train operations on the Zambian side due a strike action by workers.

Conrad Simuchile, the head of the railway firm, a joint venture between the Zambian and Tanzanian governments, said the measure was temporary and that it only affected the Zambian side with passenger trains running normally in Tanzania.

The workers are demanding the immediate adjustment of the salary dollar-exchange rate. (Zambia Daily Mail)

-- The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) will this year discuss the construction of a railway line between Zambia and Uganda to help strengthen cross-border trade in the region.

Sindiso Ngwenya, the secretary-general of Africa's largest trading bloc, said the railway project would boost the performance of cross-border trade in the region.

The regional block will also address the challenge of infrastructure being faced in the two countries, he added. (Times of ZMBIA)

-- A delegation from Saudi Arabia is expected to visit Zambia next week to finalize a deal on the export of goats from Zambia to that country.

The Small Livestock Association of Zambia said the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has included it in the negotiations to make the sale of the goats more attractive.

Martin Mukuka, the association's chairman said his members were ready to start exporting goats to Saudi Arabia.

Last year, Saudi Arabia announced its intention to import one million goats per month from Zambia. (Daily Nation) Endit