GOVERNMENT has appointed an independent task force team to look into the issues affecting Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), primary labour and operational matters.
Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga said the task force will assess the extent of the problem affecting TAZARA and report to the Zambian and Tanzanian governments.
“We are waiting for a report from the team that will be represented to the two governments…they will have to probe the headquarters, all operations of TAZARA and make recommendations,” he said.
The task force team comprises four individuals, two appointed by the Zambian government, a local citizen and a Malawian while the other two are appointed by the Tanzania government, a Tanzanian and Ugandan.
In an interview, Mr Sichinga said TAZARA is facing a lot of challenges adding that the railway firm is not operating at its optimal level.
He said Government wants to ensure that TAZARA operates at a viable and efficient level.
He said Government is aware of some problems the company is facing citing insufficient investment in the railway which needs to be addressed.
“As the Zambian government, we have in the past not put in adequate funds in the operations of TAZARA, whereas our friends from Tanzania have from time to time put in money towards operations of the company,” he said.
Mr Sichinga said inadequate funding presents challenges such as workers on the Zambian side being prone to victimisation if Government is not putting in its fair share.
He said the major problem facing TAZARA are historical liabilities such as statutory debts that have not been paid over the years.
Last week, TAZARA managing director Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika disclosed that the company requires US$ 770.1 million to improve on the company’s operations and infrastructure.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said there was need to review the TAZARA Act of 1995 to improve the chances of engaging strategic partners or other options for Private Sector participation in investment, management and overall corporate governance.
He also called for an urgent council of ministers meeting to determine a cabinet memorandum for prompt and decisive attention of shareholding governments.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Wait to hear their findings. Curious to find out what Mr. Akashambatwa Lewanika has been up to before he resigned.
Was Aka not getting the political support from MMD then? It is time we had a more serious approach than these knee jerk reactions. How about a Think Tank on the whole rail transport system, then we may have a more comprehensive look and strategy.
THIS IS GOOD AND HOPE THE COMMITTE WILL DO A RECOMMENDATION JOB TO TRY AND SORT OUT THE MESS AT TAZARA. SURE FYONSE MA PROBLEMS? NINSHI KANSHI MUNO MU ZAMBIA? WE ARE GETTNG FEED UP MWEEE.
1 and 2. TAZARA problems have nothing to do with who is running TAZARA. TAZARA was built with a $500m from China. The debt has never been cleared. The line has also never gone any repairs due again to ‘lack of Funds’. The trains take 9 days for a journey that is supposed to take 2 days. TAZARA has been undercapitalised from inception. Even this so called Task Force they have appointed is useless. The last one recommended that TAZARA needs an injection of over $700m to be viable. Workers protested against Henry Chipewo the last MD before AKA. Now they are protesting against AKA. Please put money into TAZARA or better still just lease to people with capital ! Workers are having problems coz the damned thing is not been used by anyone. No business means no money no pay no pension!
Number 4 China wrote off the debt from China China tied to inject some money into the system but the two governments were dragging their feet over what or who puts in money..Chipewo ‘sat’ on the panel that interviewed credible candidates including a fomer CEO at Zsic, ERB and others…the interview was a shambles they hired an under 5..Chipewo staged a coup and had is just deserts….concessioning will require a lot of pursuasion and giving up some of the huge perks those so called management take away…
You are dead without money. No need for a task force, just a waste of money, problems are already known. Tazara needs nearly $1bn recapitalisation, like starting a new company all over again.
I hope all these task forces that are being appointed left, right and center seriously yield something……and hope they dont take 5years only to come up with something useless and unproductive.
the same old story when will it end, tazara just need recapitalization not a task force there have been a lot of task force before on tazara its time for action
But PLEASE can this govt learn to wait for Task Forces to report back before making decisions. We are spending money forming these task forces and it makes no sense that soon after forming a commission or task force you ignore that and go on to make a decision. It is stupid. otherwise then stop making everybody look like a fool and just get on with making decisions.
TAZARA is not a viable business. It has no customers. Get over it. What is the point of commissions. Its own Board, Aka among them, should be given confidence to advise GRZ how to move forward. Get a life, it is possible that like other railway operators around the world TAZARA is a mess. It needs a private hand and money.
TAZARA needs to minimize the employees in some unproductive departments.For example, in some railway stations civil workers(gang men) are just consuming salaries for nothing while when time for maintenance they are recruiting casual workers which I observe economically is a waste money.
Secondly, when promoting do not see at faces, go through work experience and professional recommendations.