Friday, March 29, 2024

Govt kick starts North Railway Line negotiations

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Government has started considering contractors to put up the North Western Railway Line.

Communications and Transport Minister Dora Siliya disclosed that two investors, AYR Construction Group of Companies and the China Railway Construction has expressed interest in the construction of North Western Railway Line and negotiations with the duo had already started.

Ms Siliya said Government was quick to embark on this project because it would boost Zambia’s economy by creating jobs and ease transportation of goods.

Speaking during a Press briefing in Lusaka today, Ms Siliya pointed out that more contractors would be considered before a final decision on which contractor to take up the job.

The Minister noted that the start of the negotiations should bring the project to its logical conclusion.

This project, the Minister stated is very signigficant to the country saying more details about the project would be made available to the press after private discussions have been concluded.

And AYR Australian Construction Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer Ron Forlee said said the China Rail Construction Company would like to work closely with Government through construction of the railway line.

Mr. Forlee said China Railway Construction was happy to associate itself with this project to enable better transportation of goods and services in Zambia.

Recently,Government announced that it had cut the contract for Former Vice President Enock Kavindele’s company which was bidding to implement the North Railway Project.

24 COMMENTS

  1. What’s up with Zambia railways? Surely that line too, is vital and the only way to easy traffic from lusaka to the cooperbelt. while it’s good to hear of other progress meanwhile think of it too(ZR).I suggest you put up a fast train to link the two most travelled routes.Am willing to help if you are brave enough to consult me.

  2. Mass Public transit must be worked out to help fuel pricing quanderly most travellers find themselves in. Eletric trains might be the answer. Though chi Sisala is failing to run Zesco properly. Nchinga nasho ba Chipata make old models elyo umutengo nawo, bwafya.

  3. Mwati ba kavindele kuti bapanga rail line. Nibakabwalala fye balya. The the job be done by experts not brief case companies.

  4. #2 Mwinga, which rail line has Kavindele built for him to be able to build such a long distance line? I personally would favour a company with a track record on rail construction. All the towns in Zambia have no commuter rail lines. Kavindele can start making mistakes on those short distance lines and improve on them b4 he thinks of killing an elephant with his own fist. I respect Kavindele’s achievements in other business undertakings. But lets learn crowling b4 running. I hope also that the rail line in question will be dual carriage way and electrified.

  5. Kavictory is daft.He should have gone to china or anywhere for that matter and sought to partner with a coy which has a track record or prior experience in the industry.Unfortunately that is the price you pay sometimes for greed.You get the chop.

  6. #3:This electric train buzz word started off with BOZ governor Caleb. From a theoretical point of view it makes sense. And believe me I have a lot of respect for theory as my name suggests. But theory must have practical application in order to achieve desired goals.Now I am asking myself who will buy and use electric trains in Zambia. Is it RSZ or TZR or the unborn NWR? Power shortages aside.What I have read about RSZ on several media includig LT is that RSZ is running down the railways. That it is trading in cement rather operate rolling stock. It is short on spare parts & merely cannibalising remnants from ZRL. I dont see how such an operation can leap frog to electric trains.

  7. As for TZR I faintly remember reading about them making an alliance with KCM to help aqquire/rehabilitate engines and rolling stock. That implies that they dont have much capital or a strong customer base to guarantee high tonnage movement(sales). I dont see TZR leap frogging to electric trains. As for NWR, well thats still on paper. But maybe I am missing something here.

  8. In Africa just like Russia,you can not oppose the Govt. or leader of the day and still hope to do business with them.
    Enock had mooted a brilliant idea but alas,others will reap from his seed.

  9. Kavindele has a long history of unfinished building scattered all over towm. He usaually sells them many years after failing to complete them. He is wasting our time.

  10. the problem is not Kavindele.its the cheap politicking,braibing of our educated engineers and surpressing of juniors by seniors who are easily controlled by uneducated politicians.

  11. Bakaamba ba Kavindele learn to be serious for people to start taking you seriously. You are too good at TRIALS

  12. Kavindele ni mbushi. Look at his company KB Davies Ltd……it is in shumbles and looks very dirty both inside and outside, his workers stays for months without pay.His chief engineer earns K1.1 million per month and the rest of the mechanics K450,000 as basic pay. What a management? It is good news that the govt has not awarded the contract to EK.Cheer!!!

  13. Poor zambians when re we going to stop the pull him down syndrome? EK was simply trying out something many have never thought of. I could bet that the man was pretty serious about the project. Unfortunately, its appears he fell out of favour with the powers that be hence the retribution. Anyway, sometimes in life you pay a price for things you dont get. Tuff luck!!!!

  14. The Zambia Railways issue has been well and thouroughly discussed and understood- and for this reason one has to look at it as a classical example of attitude towards the overal importnace of infrastructure by government. For example, how is it possible that in this age the nations mourns one road accident after another when the largets contributing factor is POOR roads. I travelled to Easten province recently and was depressed- the stretch between Petauke and Chipata for example is pathetic and can hardly accommodate two vehichles from opposite directions- there was a nice smash up of mirrors luckily on that occassions between the 2 buses. Road safety is not just about careless driving.

  15. Lets get serious and develop the country and lay the foundations like infrastructure-this will actually attract business from within and so-called foriegn investors-unlike the rare example of Kavindele. short of this we are bluffing and regressing while others set up one satelite after another in space as we struggle with basic needs like FOOD. for a simple bridge we even fight over what to call it and make big fuss and officiate-what nonsense and backwardness. lets be serious surely.

  16. what’s up again LT? Could you clarify whether AYT and the China company are one and the same….in one parag you say two investors…”AYR Construction Group of Companies and the China Railway Construction” …while in another you say something totally confusing:…
    “And AYR Australian Construction Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer Ron Forlee said the China Rail Construction Company would like to work closely with Government through construction of the railway line.”

    …Who is saying what from where?…please could you hire someone to do a thorough job of editing and proof reading your articles before publishing them?

  17. I agree with # 2.Can someone tell me where the govt will get the money to build the rail?Even if we are bringing ‘investors’,when are they really going to start the project becoz they need to do a feasibility study,environmental assesment and other studies.WHEN WILL WE EVER STOP THE ‘PHD’ SINDROME IN ZED? On one hand we are saying citizen empowerment,and on the other we are dicouraging our local investors in preference for foreigners.SHAME ON US ALL!

  18. Peter #2,please have faith in zambians.That’s the problem with us Zambian.Anything from home is not good enough.Even when we go to the same Oxford with these chaps,when they come here,they are called experts and we are just labourers.If you want experience,Zambia will never progress.We have no experience in;
    Economic Management
    ICT
    Nuclear Physics etc.I guess we can wait for the Australian to help us too.
    who ever thought of putting a rail kusixclock?Only Kavis did.How long has the Govt struggled to finish the muchinji 20Km rail,upto now it has not reached Chipata.Alas we are optmistic of finishing 400km in one and a half years!!!!DREAM ON.

  19. We tend to spend too much time talking and politiking. Most of these infrastructure projects are being imlemented too late. We knew five years ago that this lumwna project was to start production this year. The rail project should have starting on the ground some three years ago so that by this time the new line will have reached Lumwana area like the way the electricity grid line was pulled to the area. Now that the new mine starts production in two months time and I wonder how our already poor roads will cope with the extra pressure. Fund will nowbe needed to repair road bcos of the wear and tear

  20. Without a leadership at the top that is focused in making Zambia a better country for all her citizens and their institutions has led to our current abortion of development.

    The problem we had with ZR was poor management, just like in all our institutions. These organizations reflect the quality of leadership at the top at anytime. The MMD has tried to make Zambians forget institutions that worked before they came into office. They brainwashed people to think that privatization is a cure to our industrial ills, but we know the truth. These suckers are economic hooligans and not worthy to be in public office.

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