Some members of the audience that attended the Akapelwa Public Lecture by Professor Clive Chirwa’s felt his ambitious targets for Zambia Railways was not achievable.
They said Prof Chirwa’s self-appointed three and half year timeline for turning around the ailing railway sector is over ambitious and unachievable.
Some asked Prof Chirwa to be realistic and revise his targets for the reconstruction and modernisation of the railway sector in Zambia.
Prof Chirwa, a world renowned expert of Automotive and Aerospace structures-Crashworthiness was delivering this year’s Akapelwa lecture on Thursday night at the New Government Complex in Lusaka organised by the Engineering Institution of Zambia.
In his presentation, Prof Chirwa said he required US$ 1.5 billion to completely modernize Zambia’s railway transport system.
He showed computer images of his new designs for the rail tracks, electric powered trains and modern train platforms and later played a simulation video of his newly designed modern underground Lusaka train station which wowed the audience.
Prof Chirwa said he would construct a new double rail track from Chingola to Livingstone covering 921 KM in three years which will run side by side with the existing line which will also be rehabilitated.
He said the new Zambia Railways proposed structure will have five units that will run independently to make it commercially viable and self-sustaining.
[pullquote]“You cannot say we will use those electric trains when ZESCO is load shedding every day, what you are suggesting is that the whole country should be in the dark so that your trains could run,”[/pullquote]
“With the US$ 1.5 billion, we should be able to create a million jobs. We will invest heavily in research and development and we have been talking to the Vice Chancellor at CBU that we set up an Institute of Railway Studies so that our staff and prospective staff could be trained there in many aspects of railway management.”
He said the new Zambia Railways is targeting to move freight volumes of around 2 million tons per annum mostly from the copper mines once the rail tracks have been reconstructed.
But some members of the audience comprising mainly professionals from fields such as Accountancy, Engineering, Economics and Academia submitted that Prof Chirwa’s vision for Zambia Railways was good but impossible to attain.
Some said Prof Chirwa was not being realistic by designing and recommending the use of electric powered high speed trains when Zambia is facing a critical power deficit.
“You cannot say we will use those electric trains when ZESCO is load shedding every day, what you are suggesting is that the whole country should be in the dark so that your trains could run,” commented one member of the audience during a question and answer session.
But Prof Chirwa said his team and the board is considering the options of engaging Lunsefwa Power Company for the supply of power or the constructing of a solar farm to power the new trains.
Explaining the simulations of the model, Prof. Chirwa said ZRL would establish electric powered trains to run on the rail track that will be rehabilitated.
He said having electric trains would be cheaper than using coal to move the machines.
[pullquote]The modules have about 100 kilometres each and they include Mayoba 105km, Choma 112km, Monze 101km, Naluama 101km, Chisamba 109km, Luanshima 103km, Kafulafuta 104 km, Mabote 94 km, and Chingola 92 km.[/pullquote]
He explained that the company was already considering three ways of doing it.
Prof. Chirwa said the first way would be to have a solar panel while the second one is to generate power from Lusemfwa and the third option was partnership with ZESCO whom he said had pledged to support the reconstruction.
He further highlighted nine modules to categorise development of the second 921 kilometre railway line that will be built from Chingola to Livingstone at a cost of US$120 million.
The modules have about 100 kilometres each and they include Mayoba 105km, Choma 112km, Monze 101km, Naluama 101km, Chisamba 109km, Luanshima 103km, Kafulafuta 104 km, Mabote 94 km, and Chingola 92 km.
He stated that ZRL’s core business model would be to build partnerships with businesses that are centered on five divisions namelyfreight, passenger, inter-mine, engineering design and infrastructure commercial.
Prof. Chirwa said these five areas will give ZRL a platform to become not only the country’s major employer with over 10, 000 jobs and also make it one of the biggest contributors to the national economy.
[pullquote]“This project will have to go through many regulatory impediments which we ourselves as North West Railway have faced. For you to get a bridge over the Kafue River, you will need your environmental impact report approved by ZEMA which can take up to two years.”[/pullquote]
On financing, Professor Mwenda from UNZA School of Engineering asked Prof Chirwa to revise upwards his US$ 1.5 billion estimation for the project because it was unrealistically too low.
Another member of the audience queried Prof Chirwa on how he will raise the required financing for the project especially that government has so far only released US$ 120 million for revamping the railway sector.
In his response, Prof Chirwa explained that 48% of Zambia Railways shares will be floated on the stock exchange as a way of raising additional financing adding that other funding options are being considered.
North West Railway Chairman and Former Vice President Enoch Kavindele who was also part of the audience said Prof Chirwa will not achieve anything in the three years he has set for himself.
“This project will have to go through many regulatory impediments which we ourselves as North West Railway have faced. For you to get a bridge over the Kafue River, you will need your environmental impact report approved by ZEMA which can take up to two years.”
“You cannot even blame ZEMA because they are overwhelmed with work. Their Kitwe office for instance only has seven officers. I wish you well Clive, I want you to succeed but it’s a huge challenge,” Mr. Kavindele said.
Others advised Prof Chirwa to have a regional approach to the project and start consulting other railway operators in neighbouring countries because cargo and passengers would need to transit from one country to another.
[pullquote]“You cannot even blame ZEMA because they are overwhelmed with work. Their Kitwe office for instance only has seven officers. I wish you well Clive, I want you to succeed but it’s a huge challenge,” Mr. Kavindele said.[/pullquote]
Some asked Prof Chirwa to bear in mind that public procurement procedures are long and tedious and that might frustrate his timeframe for the project.
Others raised concern over the proposed fencing of the rail tracks especially that some people have legally and illegally built structures close to the rail tracks.
Prof Chirwa explained that government has assured him that compensation and eviction of the people is being considered and that there should be no structure within 50 meters of the rail track from Chingola to Livingstone.
President Michael Sata appointed Prof Chirwa as Chief Executive Officer of Zambia on November 15 2012 after cancelling the concession agreement with the Railway Systems of Zambia.
Problem of mixing politics and business! He wants to impress but he is clearly disregarding the facts in the process…
If Prof Clive Chirwa manages to transform ZRL, he’ll make a name in Zambia’s history books.
I start to like Chirwa, he should just be Republican president, because the other guy took over mega road system and seems he very behind and in fact more ambitious than Chirwa.
wrong comment dude. Prof is right and his vision is good for real country men and women.
There is nothing political about this, all Zambians will be given opportunities to benefit from this project. The best shot here would be to use the Japanese approach of achieving goals. Yes I know this is Zambia, but the truth is that Zambia is in a changing world.
The only problem would be on the capital resources also known as Money. Anything below $4.5 billion is too small for such a project, unless if some donors will help in funding part of the project. Try to check how much such projects have costed other countries that have basics that we don’t have. Not less that $3.8b!
Clive should lead us for a change!
We need practical minds!
When mediocrity reigns for too long it becomes a norm, and anything to the contrary is received with scepticism. Prof Chirwa’s ideas are great, but of course of his project cost estimates and implementation programme are on the lower side. What I find disappointing is the attitude of the people in the audience. The kind of inputs we should be making are ones that would contribute to the success of the project rather than shooting it down, even if it means a complete reorientation of the strategy.It’s important that we regard third initiative as Zambia’s rather than Prof Chirwa’s ZRL revitalization programme.
Sorry: I meant “… THIS initiative….”
May I also mention that this is a two-way thing. I hope Prof Chirwa has not come with the attitude that he knows it all and everyone must shut up & listen only to him. There are workers and other professionals that have served ZRL for very long and have literally WALKED the entired network of our rail tracks maintaining and operating this infrastructure. While we must not remain ancient, the technology we adopt as a solution shoul be affordable, durable and sustainable. So, we need a consolidation of Prof Chirwa’s and everyone else’s ideas to achieve the desired result as a nation.
Audience pick holes ???? That is the problem with people who have never gone abroad and see what development means. Do you think any good and sound project will be easy? Any good and sound project will be challenging but you have to aim high. That is why the white people are more developed than us Africans. We Africans have no vision. Have you ever seen the underground train system in Russia called Metro. They built that system 100 years ago. Have a good project and fight to accomplish it.
PHD- WE KNOW YOU. WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT SETTING YOURSELF HIGH STANDARDS? CHIRWA THE MAN. ZAMBIA NEEDS MEN AND WOMEN LIKE HIM. NOT THE SIRT OF YOU PHDs.
And i rest my case….. US$1.5bn can not even buy modern train coaches later alone electrify the rail line from Livingstone to Chingola.
Prof i can easily build you a simulation of trains and underground stations to impress anyone…
I have a huge doubt as to what costing models Prof.Chirwa used to arrive at a figure of US$1.5B for the whole ZRL COUNTRY WIDE PROJECT.If he takes into account the current minimum wage levels and his estimation of one million jobs during construction period,he will find that his estimations will hardly pay wages beyond six months at Kr5.00 to a dollar.
i.diot, how much is umutwe wa train?
You are now telling lies Mr Engineer. Do you even know what $100m can do? $1.5b isn’t enough for such a project, that’s true. But to say that $1.5b can’t buy a modern train coach is a lie!. If you think I’m lying too, check the price of modern coaches!
The US$1.5 billion cannot buy modern coaches? I can only assume modern coaches cost the earth in that part of the world. Are you sure sir, you are talking about coaches which run on railway tracks? Hell I know the US$ has lost value but if for US$1.5 billion, you can not buy coaches then you should consider using the Kwacha(rebased) baba.
Good ideas but in a wrong country he will face aolt of problems because already you can see they comments from the people who were they most of them true I pity the prof. Lets wait and see!
“If you hear people telling you that you will fail in your project and that it cant be done, that is when you should go full tilt into it.” – Cant remember who said that.
THE PROBLEM IS THOSE ENGINEERS HAVE NEVER PIONEERED ANYTHING IN THEIR LIVES. EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO DESIGNING A CHICKEN RUN THEY HAVE TO TAKE A CARBON PAPER TO TRACE THROUGH THE DESIGN THEY HAVE DOWNLOADED FROM THE INTERNET. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM CHIRWA IS NOT THAT TYPE OF ENGINEER. PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW HE HAS COSTED THE PROJECT- HE HAS DONE NUMEROUS PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR AEROSPACE, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, US, ETC. HOW CAN CHIRWA FAIL TO COST THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RAIL SYSTEM? IN ANY CASE DID YOU WANT CHIRWA TO GIVE YOU THE EXACT COSTING JUST AT A MEATING. THOSE ARE ESTIMATIONS. THEY MAY BE BELOW OR ABOVE. AT ZAMBIA’S ENGINEERZ!!!
That is wrong attitude. What do you thing is the right country for this other than Zambia. Zambia needs it and other countries have done it and they keep improving on what they have.
The Intellectuals saw a loss of dignity in Prof’s presentation and as such they first had to poke holes in it. Negative thinking and damn retrogressive. Dream high and you will get somewhere. If Prof’s budget is too low just say Prof lets re-work out the requirements of getting this Project on. If you zero in the estimation costs for the project you will then help out where prof missed. We are not 360 degrees thinkers, meaning we need to partner up with him in the projct. Be ready to face change. Its ONLY CHANGE THAT WILL BRING CHANGE IN OUR COUNTRY.
He has good projects but too ambitious, stay low Clive…
Why slow down, he came to do a job here. You think he left UK to come and start listening you ‘pull him down’ (PhD) chaps? Watch CC’s space. Before you know it, you will abandon your BMW (if you have one) or is it your bicycle and jump on CC’s train. I am not bothered about the passenger train because I come from a province of plentiful water where I can either go by my bima and boat.
Vision is good. However he will get more and more frustrations due to red tape in the system. He is out of touch with the Zambian scenario.
There is no red tape. The problem is you lazy people like you who stop at nothing but blame the system because of your own individual failures. Clive ali makora.
MY BROTHER HE IS NOT OUT OF TOUCH. HE IS THERE TO BRING IN A NEW LEVEL OF WORK CULTURE AS IS WHERE HE’S COMING FROM. AND CC WILL SET THOSE STANDARDS. I AM TOTALLY BEHIND CHIRWA AND I WILL WITH MY EXPERTIS VERY SOON WHEN AM READY TO GO AND BEEF HIM UP SO THAT THERE’S LESS CHANCES FOR FRUSTRATION BY THE PHD ENGINNERS IN ZAMBIA.
he is trying to bring to zambia a good attitude towards work but people with ‘business as usual attitude’ want him to fail instead of pledging support. every well meaning zambia should be looking forward to this massive project coming to fruition.
chinese built an electric train from shanghai to beijing in less than 3 years and the distance is longer than what professor chirwa is talking about… lazy zambians its time to get to work and not just talking everytime.. If he fails, he would have tried.
People are talking about an realistic budgets and tedious tender procedures. I guess if these two issues are addressed then all is well with the prof!
It is always better to fail in doing something than to excel at doing nothing…Go Prof, try it. You aren’t alone lol.
You are very correct Kapyongo, until we change this defeatist mentality, we will never amount to anything in terms of development. You would think the engineers listening to his presentation will be floating helpful ideas and asking how they could be part of this important project, instead they are all trying to shoot his ideas down. If you are not a dreamer then forget ever achieving anything in life. Prof. Chirwa need all the support of all progressive minded persons. Where his ideas seem overly short sighted such as his budget, do not just criticise but offer solutions. Try to emulate the Asian Tigers’ spirit of self sufficiency. With these copper mines short changing us on the taxes, what is 1.5billion or even 5billion if that was the case? Put tax measures in place to up revenue
NIBA NGWELE AMA ZAMBIANS. THEY WISH HIM TO FAIL INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING AND EVEN ADVISING HIM POSITIVELY. A RAILINE IS ARCHIVABLE IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS GIVEN THAT ZAMBIA’S LAND IS NOT EVEN HEAVILY POPULATED, ALMOST NO STRUCTURAL OBSTACLES, EASY LANDSCAPE, EVEN THEN THE LINE IS ALREADY THERE ALONGSIDE THE PROPOSED ONE. CC, PLEASE EMPLOY ZAMBIAN ENGINEERS FROM ABROAD AND UNZA AND CBU GRADUATES TO LEARN.
We got to work, good things do n’t come easy if it where so we could have all been the Bill Gates of this world. Ask President Obama if he got his 2nd term with easy. All even our very own President Michael Sata. He failed the election exams 3 times before he Passed this one with distinctions to State house. We all voted for this man. So under his leadership CHANGE HAS COME. NEW THINKING MEGA ROADS, MEGA RAILWAY LINES ETC WILL BE DONE.
This project is viable in Zambia. To begin with, its a project that has its citing in place already and will initially run side by side thereby alleviating critical challenges of complete standstill should targets be missed. People talk of ZEMA taking years to approve their part (new thinking demand that incompetency need not stand in way of advancing development). Zambia’s terrain is friendly throughout except fo few bridges. With the determination of Prof Chirwa the project is possible to be achieved.
Most bloggers think we are trying to shoot done Prof Chirwa. The problem of living abroad for too long is that you start living in a glass house and touch with reality.
Someone once said dreams do not cost anything… i guess i can not blame the Prof
and loose touch with reality…
@ Engineer.If at all you are even in Australia, I thought you should be one of the few people to even support Prof Chirwa’s project. So what do you want or expect from the prof? to just to sit down and chew whatever salary he is being given or do something and bring much needed development to Zambia. Most zambians are lazy and armchair critics who are always happy to see someone fail. We need a change in mentality and altitude if we are to bring development to Zambia. We all have dreams and unlike you, some of us have the courage to try and achieve our dreams. No wonder you spend years abroad only to come back in zambia to find your friends have companies, mansions and living a better life than you guys in the diaspora. Work up,grow up,stop the PHD and be courageous to achieve your…
This not a case of living abroad for along time. Presently, people doing project in Zambia are all foreign companies whose engineers just come to Zambia and conduct a feasibility study for a project and go back to their countries and come up with a solution and bravo you praise them because they are ‘ expatriates’ and you have no problem with that! Now Professor Chirwa, a Zambia for that matter-who spent most of his youthful time in Zambia, comes up with Project Proposal you all become excited. We should move away from this attitude of inferiority complex to embracing challenges and pushing ourselves beyond our capabilities so as to create innovative ideas and methods of achieving our goals. Otherwise our gun-sling approach to problems will lead us to no where.
Engineer. You are right on this one. This three years plan will and can not work at all. IN South Africa it took two years to finalize the plans (feasibility and other studies) for a rail line about 60kms long ( i stand to be corrected on distance). for 900+kms, we shall need the three years for the studies alone. The ideas are very good for the Country but the timing is wrong Prof! If you say feasibility studies for three years, i am 100% with you. BUT construction can never happen within the time frame. Prof. should re-visit the plans with other local stakeholders with more experience in government processes so that you can come up with a realistic plan
When the Gautrain was started a lot of people thought, that Mbazima Shilowa was smoking his socks(to put it politely). Initially it was even called the Mbazima express. But now that the train is running all those who used to write negative things have shut up and are now raving how nice it is to travel from Johannesburg to Pretoria on the Gautrain. Go CC will you soon discover or have already found out that in, Africa people criticise for the sake of being heard and not because they think they have better ideas than you.
You are just saying from without without affering alternatives. What we are forgeting is that as a first step South Korea has pledged trains to Zambia. And we must be appreciative of this ambitious projects, and together think of how it can be financed and sustained. Not t always bring down. Great things come fro ideas, mobilisation and implementation. When are we going to develop if we always feel certan things can only happen in ‘God Chosen Countries’ and remove Zambia? Success only comes through overcoming overcoming of obstacles through intelligent application of oneself.
Yes, dreams do not cost anything but you will have no dreams at all if
you dont sleep. Let him dream….give him a better dream if you have one.
MY BROTHER, HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN NON-ZAMBIANS WHO COME TO ZAMBIA TO MAKE IT BIG WHILE ZAMBIANS START SAYING BECAUSE HE’S A WHITEMAN, OR BECAUSE HE’S SOMALI OR EGYPTIAN. THEY MAKE IT DUE TO THEIR POSITIVE WORK ATTITUDE WHICH ALMOST EVERY ZAMBIAN DON’T HAVE APART FROM THOSE WHO WERE EDUCATED OVERSEAS THOUGH THEY ARE MAIN PHDed BY INDIGENOUS ZAMBIANS WITH NO EXPOSURE. I THINK CHIRWA IS A MORALE BOOSTER TO THEM.
Prof Chirwa, you know better than I do and am certain that you have been around the block for a long time to know that all Great plans and projects face stiff opposition from sceptics who justifiably can’t think out of the box.
I just want to say that this is normal and you know and don’t lose heart. At least I support you and believe that indeed you can do what you have set out to do.
For me, even if you just put one Modern Fast Electric Train from Kafue to Lusaka using the $120m, that will be a great achievement. Why do I say this? Because you would have proved a working concept which we can then extend to the rest of Zambia.
Go Prof, I’m behind you. Time to shake off mediocrity. We are tired of this inferiority complex please.
the problem all across Africa is that African see criticism as making someone fail. The reality is people are giving input to someone who has spent too manny years in a country where things work.
I totally agree with you… the Prof should have started with Lusaka Kafue and seen the difficulties most people are pointing out. Even and advance country than Zambia like South Africa. A feasibility study for a fast train between Durban and Johannesburg proved to be uneconomical.
this is a great news for visionary minds. the problem with zambians is that corruption has entered into their blood. for them to realise anything, they want allowances. hope those critising the prof. have altenatives. please, move out of your country and see the working culture and mind set of other people, otherwise u will remain perpetual beggers for 100 years to come despite being professors at UNZA and CBU for nothing
I’ll be cheering him on with you sir. Too many skeptics in Zambia! Everyone wants to behave like they know better but why they havn’t come up with something all these years is beyond me,all they know is being fast at pulling down another’s ideas. Thats why Africa is where it is now coz of such mentality.
You have hit the nail on the head. Let him start we see how much time and resources will be required to cover whatever will not have been done. Then we shall give him such. Lets not be content with fidobadoba. At least we will have started a modernization journey.
Viva Prof
I’m with u on this one Mr, Prof, u can do it, u have the plan and u kno how to get there. Mind u those people who are talking they have not achieve anything apart from there papers they use to teach and on the other hand it’s the gov u working for which control everything, it can speed up the process for u if needed. The problem of people who are in zed for too long, they can not even notice that Zambias economy is moving too fast than they think and act. What the prof. Has set is achievable with the right mind as him and people to backing him up and with u prof. Chirwa, mind u not all people will want u to achieve it, just stick to your guns as there more critisim to come
Money chikalah at play,shikafuma kwi??
Engineer in Australia
The plan is in phases (modules). What CC is sharing with the public is the span of his plan.
The fact that CC has been living abroad does not mean he has not been coming home frequently and uninterested in Zambian issues. That is a major misconception most people have of the diasporans (if you will). Besides, bear in mind that he did not make the plan in a vacuum; the plan has fingerprints of local experts who are aware of systemic red tape.
It is okay to critique the plan, but not to criticize the architect. This is the same person who once suggested clearing Zambezi to create a connection to the sea. An ambitious plan most would think, but that’s the kind of thinking we need to do anything worthwhile.
Do it in phases – workable phases.
This is the way to go MMD Bootlicker
YOU HAVE SAID EVERYTHING MM BOOT FIMOFIMO. I AM ABSOLUTELY BEHIND PROF. CHIRWA, TOO. NON-PERFORMING ENGINEERS IN ZAMBIA WILL ALWAYS TRY AND SHOOT HIS IDEAS DOWN. BUT PROF. C HAS BEEN IN WORSE CONDITIONS OF RACISM BAMBI ABO NIBANGWELE FYE.
This is the problem with Zedians. This can be achieved if we want it to be achieved. Change your mind set, please. Your ministers are burying 2bn kwacha in the soil and you tell me there is no cash in Zambia for such work. What is wrong with you?
Some former presidents plus Ka Chlluba wasted too much money on shoes, girlfriends etc. Use the money wisely for such projects. Go to Beijing to the Museum of construction, you will be amazed. A big modern city is constructed and people start to move in within 2 years. Please, support such development. get rid of the unnecessary beaurocracy in the ZEMA and other GRZ bodies.
When the Chinese Government were preparing for the Olympics I was there. Guys, there were massive construction projects and all of them done and completed before the…
Go to Moscow, the city of sub ways.
This is a very very nice idea & thinking by this proffessor, am confident this can be achieved.
Am very dissappointed that engineers where the ones in the fore front saying negative about this project, nowander our Zambia engineers cant even make anything.
Kavindele should understand this is a government project but him it was for his personal benefit so issues of licenses wont be an issue at all.
For those who have built there house near the rail, am sorry but u were warned & never listened.
These some of them economist they keep on misleading the public, dont listen to them proffessor.
Keep up with the good work!!!
The kind of economists we have in Zambia, the likes of Chibamba Kanyama, grandfathered themselves into the title. They have a skewed notion of who an economist is.
What is the name of that man who built the trans-atlantic railway? The french man who built the suez canal? These men were ambitious and they achieved. There are such men in the world. Let us not plunder this chance to use our own prof Chirwa. They don’t come in any other form. Let us support this and move with the tide.
When are we ever going to do anything worthy the record in building our country?
MY OTHER ADVICE TO OTHER DIASPORA ZAMBIANS IS RESIGN YOUR POSITIONS OVERSEAS IF YOU ARE READY- GO AND JOIN UP WITH CHIRWA TO MAKE THIS IDEA INTO FRUITION BEFORE IT IS SHOT DOWN BY MEDIOCRE ENGINEERS IN ZAMBIA. THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOU TO SUCRIFICE. PLEASE, GET IN CONTACT WITH CC AND SEE WHERE YOU CAN FIT IN AS HE STARTS EMPLOYING.
McCain said he would never invade another country to get Osama and called Obama naive for suggesting otherwise… I see a lot of mindsets that are only looking at the truth of inability and disregarding the facts surrounding possibility… I have witnessed a lot of this in that country – that is why we only jump to do something once it is broken.
Did Obama authourise an invasion of Pakistan to get Osama? Well i must have been asleep when that happened. I never heard that the USA invaded Pakistan. What I heard was that US planes violated Pakistan airspace, and that my dear is not the same as invading.
As far as the time-scale is concerned I personally think its ambitious BUT it feasible in that ZRL owns the track and the land on which it is built …it all comes to funding.As for the funding he is not clear as well how can you float a company that is on it kneels so are you going to issue a Euro-bond or not? As for the engines he has to be very clear on this; is it electric engines or diesel electric?
Do you know what a “red herring” is? Successful investors put their money on an idea – eat your heart IBM, there goes Gates and his MSC idea! Work up people.
Correct…. but those individuals and companies you have mentioned are private companies NOT government owned public companies.
@Solola, I like your reasoning and zeal. We need a lot of such minds in Zambia, to many cant do altitudes in Zambia. Lets be proactive and always believe in our abilities.
The problem we have in Zambia is that anybody who questions someone’s ideas is frustrating termed as negative or worse bitter – for this specifically…I blame our lazy politicians. To us in industry there is nothing called a negative comment we call it feedback. Have you people ever brainstormed ideas?? If we encouraged brainstorming in all issues …most of our man-made problems would be sorted overnight.
The professor even at the selfsame lecture he hosted; he was not only there to read speeches but he was there on a brainstorming session and an opportunity to further fine tune his ideas and may have been head-hunting as well….as that’s what I would do.
JAY JAY, THERE ARE PROJECTS I HAVE WITNESED HERE THAT I INITIALLY USED TO THINK THEY WERE UNACHIEVABLE. BUT, THIS WAS BECAUSE I HAD JUST ARRIVED IN THIS COUNTRY. WHAT IS A RAIL TRACK CONSTRUCTION, ANZATU?
We are happy with the fact that you are making efforts to revamp our Railway system. I have not had the opportunity to read the exact strategy – i would need to evaluate it for myself, if i can find it anywhere.
1) we are happy with new development (Lusaka/ Livingstone) – hope it will continue; maintenance, sanitary very important.
2) we do need to look at transporting heavy and bulk commodities (Smart strategy) as this will help us participate in global supply chain.
3) Many are watching with great interest.
LT i have been reading through your mission, vision and policies i must say you seem professional. You even got me blogging.
People, the man has a vision. Let’s not just concentrate on shooting it down. Critisism is good but not to a point where you are just hoping it fails. I like the points kavindele raised, he did not said he would fail but rather to adjust the time line. The proffesor is a learnered man I’m I’m sure for him to come up with that figure and present itto such distiguished guest he did his reasearch. Its not a crime to misestimate time. To me nobody is really saying that it can’t be done but rather it can’t be done in 3 years. So what if it takes 5 or even 10 years, just as long as the end result is acheived.
I have long thought that the key to developing zambia laid in having a railway system through out the country. That would open up access to remote areas. Cont’d
MY BROTHER, I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHAT YOU HAVE WITNESED IN YOUR LIFE. BUT, PROFESSOR’E TIME ESTIMATION IS VERY POSSIBLE. ROAD CONSTRUCTION IS HEAVIER THAN RAIL CONSTRUCTION. THE GRZ MUST JUST SUPPORT CHIRWA WITH RAISING THAT MONEY AND MORE. IF ONE LOOKS AT SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM BENEFITS US$2B IS CHICKEN FEED.
I think the idea is a great one but zambian always rushes to condemn instead of trying to be part of the good idea. Its like we’re just interested in being right so that other look wrong. They’re some positive criticism or let me call the check,that is very welcome
Imwe bafitoole thats why even when it comes to voting,you are always making wrong choices because what ever weet crap comes to your ears you buy it. Chirwa’s dreams are not tenable simply because your economy is too weak to sustain them.its not wishing any one ill its reality,ask kaunda what happened whe he pulled down dag with the hope of rebuilding a modern one.
Mboo,
What is the relationship between Dag and a railway line? When you say the economy is too weak to sustain the dream of a rail line what is the basis of your argument? Has it not occurred to you that the rail may very well be what is required to begin strengthening the economy?
Mboo,
What comes first, Chicken or Egg? You have a strong economy, which somehow it gets strong by itself, and then you build your wonderful railway line. Or you strive to build infrastructure by whatever means. Get the knowhow like Chirwa, find the money even if you are poor, invest in the facilities that can make you take off or kick started into another level of economic dispensation…..
My only question is..why Livingstone to chingola? What about what about other areas that have huge economic potential?
Its not just with Zambians , man naturally resists change. BUT CC and the appointing hand will override resistance.
be patient with Clive. You dont him but have only heard of the man. The developed world knows the man and his credentials that they are real, his budget is real. GIVE THE MAN ROOM ENOUGH TO MOVE AND POSSIBLY SHUT UP BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEVER CREATED EVEN A TOY CAR , MOBILE PHONE, ETC.
CLIVE, MWANA WA MAMA, SHOW THEM THAT IT CAN BE DONE IN ZAMBIA AFRICA TOO.
Prof Chirwa is a joker.
Guys before you start judging people or calling them jokes, Internet is vey easy these day, go on to google search egine type prof Clive chirwa and learn a bit about the man, this is a man that the so called super countries USA,UK,JAPAN,RUSSIA etc have asked for his opinion. He knows about cheap labour in purr country and I’m sure he has the contacts eg Chinese to do the work. The sad thing is all these professional people at the meeting non of them asked how our graduates would benefit as in job wise. What’s so wrong with working with prof c chirwa for a common gain for mother Zambia.
Its not just with Zambians , man naturally resists change. BUT CC and the appointing hand will override resistance.
typical of Zambians! PHD!
from the way the hole are being expressed one can deduce that more would celebrate if he failed………i mean this is engineering we are talking about this is not common sense like other fields
…how do you say, for there to be electric trains then the whole country will plunge in darkness….such arguments should be backed by typical statistics of how much power would be required by the venture against the available installed capacity……how do we manage to have the mines operative and still have the domestic and commercial loads have their share of the available produced power?
lets support him ladies and gentle men……offer supportive criticism
I agree with Chija Chije apa pali kusiyana ma offesi. Please let us leave engineering to engineers and accounts to accountants, economics to economists. Stop arguing about something you know nothing about. Most arguers at this debate started as tuntemba business men and have now risen to the occasion where they are big business men like Kavindele. Siyani vokambakamba.
Iwe don’t even waste your time,jus ask him his plans of how he is going to source all that money required for those dreams he is habouring. Putting a proposa on computer or paper is one thing and geting finances is another boyi.tasimena ku fimuti
They should have a conversation with Henry Ford who suggested to build a car which required a road where there was none. Naturally, people who were used to riding horses and buggies thought Henry had gone nuts!
Some ideas are simply revolutionary!
MWANA, E THINKING YAMA ZAMBIAN ENGINEERS- ATI THE WHOLE COUNTRY WILL BE IN DARKNESS. ATI NIBA ENGINEER BALISOMA?
its a dream…long term planning..some politicians may be dead then..lol!
And also help to decongest out beloved lusaka town. In western countries they have railway systems to all major towns. You find some one lives in lusaka but works in kitwe or even chingola.he gets up inthe morning drives to the railway station for a 2 hour trip to and from work. This in my opinion would also help ease the burden to high fuel expenditure for motorist every month.ba zambia let’s work together. If anythingsome of the hurdles mentioned by the audience can be easily over come by some of the people in attendance all this needs is for all of us to have a single vision and Believe that it can work! Let’s Critisize but let the critisism be for the good of the project and not malicious comments wishing the man to fail. Go for it Proff. I’m with you all the way!
MAY I ALSO WON THE ZAMBIANS, THAT IF THE RAIL PROJECT, 8,000 KILOMETER ROAD IS ACHIEVED, AND SATA IS WELL AND LIVE TO SEE THE DAY, IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT ANOTHER POLITICAL WILL RULE IN 2016. BUT IF GOD TAKES SATA FROM THE EARTH SOON, THEN UPND SHALL RULE.
Keegan, you are off the course, we are discussing ZRL and CC’s vision and not who rules when. So you people are still nursing your 2011 hangover, move on please and start campaigning in bemba-speaking provinces. Yes, UPND may rule 50 years from now. Never mind who dies and does not because we are all headed to the grave. Otherwise, it is a fallacy to think that UPND would have an opportunity in 2016. The more you think of HEMCS’s demise, the more our Lord strengthens him. You are only cursing yourself and family. So repent!!!
So you idddiot that hollow vision 8000 is your benchmark of judging PF,no wonder you won people and not warn. Mulaisebanya bachikalahhh
Like I have always said, you only have to google Prof Chirwa and find out where he comes from in terms of knowledge and where he worked before he went back to Zambia. It is like imagining that a Head of Department at NORTEC in Ndola is South African and suddenly decides to go back to South Africa and he is given to task to revamp South Africa’s railway system. Chirwa is a celebrity professor, but once you go beyond his celebrity you will find no substance. We have more intelligent people than Chirwa who are just Doctors, who can deliver our dreams of a working ZR. I’m not trying to bring Prof down – he has done that himself by putting himself where he shouldn’t be. At this stage, we should not be tolerating any person trying to con us again, we have been through a lot already with Sata.
But where have you all been you so called technocrats with brilliant ideas about ZRL? Chirwa has come on board on your behalf and you are ranting.
NO HE IS WHERE HE IS BECAUSE GOD DESIGNED FOR HIM AND NOT FOR THOSE FEARFUL CHARACTERS OF YOURS. ONLY WHEN YOU LAUNCH OUT THATS WHEN YOU BECOME.
ABRAHAM IN THE BIBLE LAUNCHED OUT AND HE CREATED ISRAEL
KAUNDA LAUNCHED OUT AND BECAME FIRST PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA.
LISTEN, THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT BUT TO ALL GOD GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY.
First your example of someone s.african at nortec then going to south Africa to deal with a massive project for RSA, what exactly did you wanna say, coz prof c chirwa has been leaving in the uk and working with developed nations and now he’s been asked to help his third world country Zambia where I’m from. When he gives the cost of $1.5 billion I believe he knows exactly what he’s talking about.question what is the minim hourly pay in Zambia? In UK it’s £6.20 an hour? Believe it or not we have good hard working cheap labor in Zambia, with the help of the Chinese I believe this target is achievable.lets hope and pray this project takes off and get some of our uni graduate involved. One Zambia One Nation.
PHD, AGAIN
How can someone be a celebrity professor with no substance in Europe and all over the world? Do you know what you are talking about?
I can only comment when i see the computer graphics and relate to the said money he said he needed
Before Professor Chirwa realises, he will be the fourth Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works in charge of railway section! That is how the new mad man Dictator Sata operates he has no laid out rules nor policy in place.
The most learned State Counsel former Justice Minister Zulu learned the hard way before he realised he was fired for no reason just to create room for his mad Injustice Minister the most greedy lustrous monster Wynter (June) Kabimba.
Currently no one knows how may permanent secretaries are in each ministry, mostly are more than the required budgeted number!
Sata has no clue to how Zambia will attain the Millennium goals. Sata only knows how to oppress & suppress innocent political leaders in Zambia.
Fuseki iwe, which most learned State Counsel? Just say a learned State Counsel iwe kolwe. Where were you when ZRL was being run down by you dictators who even remove important clauses from law in your quest to continue ripping mother Zambia. If HEMCS did not stop you, it would have worsened. Kambani mpaka muleke ba ngwele imwe. Seleni tubombeko.
Advocate banoko ifiko mukapunda,the guy is trying to enlighten you watampa ifya bushilu,remain stupid
@muheshimiwa mboo, iwe kabili banoko tabakwata so you were born from your father’s a.s hole since he is gay.
3years yachepa ba professor especially that funds are not readily available, be realistic
We are all allowed to dream big……. people have achieved unattainable goals because of dreaming….. let him dream electric trains only God knows how that will be possible with load shedding….. dream and please dream on. w
Pretty
Your analysis is embarrassing and funny for your name. Persuade me, how does one get to the point of achieving what you call ‘unattainable goals’
Notice that all unattainable goals cannot/will never be achieved by anyone in this world we all know.
Do you perhaps use flexible rules in your ‘world’ to bend the natural law. Share something new and correct. Do not use the psychology of despair and anger because it replaces the sense of learning what is acceptable. Thank you enjoy, whatever.
If you are using derogatory language here then you are simply saying you have stopped thinking. So lets not stop thinking, we need this project completed.
”….wait see.” really? This attitude will not take us anywhere. Clive needs support by critical analysis of his proposal and offer SOLUTIONS.
CLIVE plse publish your dreams and let those us with our own minds give you our comments.
Exactly…Clarity is what everyone is asking for as $120m of our money has been released already…
I support you Clive Chirwa. I am in support of your ideas to revise ZRL. Lets just revise the timeline of the project to a realistic date. Regarding the $1.5 billion project cost please leave it at this figure. We don’t use money to plan. We plan first and then attach monetary values later. You are on course Clive. Secondly, the whole project has to be done in phases considering the gigantic scale of the undertaking. Stagger it over 5 years at the earlies and ten years at the latest. Let it be a strategic plan and not a one-off project. Tie to other national development targets in the transportation sector in the country.
As for you critics, please lets have your solutions as well to your misgivings. Negativity, should have no room in Zambia.
Good luck and all the best Clive.
too much poverty causes people to be blind. too many arm chair critics. too many skeptical minds. You people, you have seen too much poverty such that simple ideas seem to be unfathomable in your poverty congested minds. Always trying to figure out how much they are going to get as nchekelamo
ya the problem of not having a vision is sin,cause when u have a vision u will work hard to get what u want.not long ago people was asking how i he is going to get $1.5billion now that he as explain how to get the money they start something alse instand of helping him to get the best they just want to see home fail so that they can say that we told u thats wrong thats very wrong ,prof is not trying to build his house but something for all zambians lets just suport him. ati the my money u are talking about wont do anything yea in your head it will not do anything cause u dont have a vision.so if i tell u that am thinking of building a biofuel small company u will tell me that is not possible
We don’t want to be accomplices in chasing mirages
6 and 7, well said. That is the spirit we need. For you to succeed, you have to have a vision, determination and believe in yourself. Not to just argue that CC is over ambitious, that is why some of you are still where you are because of not trying. Leave Clive alone.
Remember that goals should be realistic, achievable & within a reasonable time frame. Things to do with resources & politics are something else
I AGREE WITH YOU CC IS OVER AMBITIOUS THAT’S WHY HE HAS GONE AS FAR AS BEING PROMOTED TO PROFESSORSHIP IN THE LEARNING INSTITUTION WORLD. CONTINUE NOT BEING AMBITIOUS YOU PEOPLE. IT’S AMAZING ENGINEERS SAYING BUILDING A RAIL TRACK IS BEING OVER-AMBITIOUS.
If Prof. Chirwa hand the money he was says he needs to make this dream a reality, then I would support him.
95% of this dream is finding the finance. The remaining 5% which is the easy part is what he showed those who attended his lecture
If Prof Chirwa worked and his plans nd projects were successful abraod,what will make him fail here…! people are just too skeptical….! lets put our efforts together to see our great nation go forward….! ‘I HAVE A DREAM’
JEALOUS WILL MAKE HIM FAIL HERE IF HE CONTINUES TO INTER-MINGLE AND LISTEN TO ONLY-A-NAME ENGINEERS.
What renowned expert is this dreamer! And for heaven’s sake, how could US$1.5 billion do all these things he is dreaming about, is this rebased dollar or what? I had respect for this man but now I know he is just a stinking sangoma!
Prof Chirwa, put your plan in a coherent strategic plan format. Lets not just be adhoc about such ambitions.
I feel good about this. Whether Prof Chirwa does it or not, but this is a breath of fresh air. At last we have Zambians discussing and debating development. All along, Politicians just woke up in the morning and said, ‘Hey, I fancy a Stadium at that corner of the forest’ or ‘Hey, how about a shopping mall there that will sell imported goods to Zambians?’
ki ki ki ki. ati Lusaka underground rail station. street kids will be sheeeting there.
Not possible bwana. Automated gates, only accessible upon swiping.
BUSHE NI MU CHIFWANI, BULULU?
This is very achievable people lets just support him and the govt in achieving this very important development, l understand everything has a beginning and it needs someone to spearhead such a development.Zedians why do you have such negative approach to things Please change our mindsets for the betterment of our future and our children.
Its always good to have visionaries in our midst.Zambia needs to be taken forward.For those worried about electricity we could always explore using solar power.Zambia has the sun through out the year.Its about time we used the natural resources made freely available to us.
ELO CAN YOU IMAGINE- NI ENGINEER UULI WORRIED NA SOURCE OF POWER TO DRIVE THE NEW TRAINS TO BE. HOW CAN AN ENGINEER NOT THINK OF SOLAR AND OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY?
ideas are cheap! Let the man dream, i like it that way becuase it can stimulate the young ones to dream. Who said we can not have high-speed electric trains in Zambia? We and there is always a starting point. This may take 30 years but its good for the future generations. The mentality of thinking small is bad.
DO YOU WONDER WHY AFRICANS STILL USE UTU BAFA FOR COMMUTER TRANSPORT? THIS IS BECAUSE OF ALWAYS THINKING SMALL.
Such public forum discussions are always good and normally become sources of development…..the professor needs to listen to his critics and hopefully adjust his ambitions but certainly not shelve them altogether…….we need to make progress and debates like that provide a starting point
Go on Clive. Every journey starts with a step. You will definitely realise your dream. Am sure you know that most Zambians are pesmistic and Arm Chair Critics and always preaching the PHD ideologies. No wonder we are so sluggish in development.
Mission from the professor is very much okay,he just needs support from govt ,stakeholders & from all meaningful Zambians.From the blogs above l have observed that many of you guys you are so negative in your comments ,now what do you want first for this country to develop,if you cant advise him or govt where its not okay?Why do you think other countries develop?
Prof. you are not a criminal and, it is not punishable for a son of the soil to inform his fellow nationals that Zambians derserve better a railway transport system. The prof. has unpacked his blueprint and on one hand, he deserves our full regconition of his honesty intentions. The gentleman departs from an understanding that this project might take longer to complete despite his intended timeframe. Still linked to the above, the prof. is also aware of additional costs due to rises in costs of building materials and possible rises in the interest rates. Note that oil price is a factor in Prof. ‘s margic hat.
Prof. has also consulted widely and he is not as naive as his critics assume him to be. All these predictions that he will not fulfill this project are insults directed at Zambians
oops, sorry sometimes my system does not fully retrieve stored messages in other faculties of my brain.
I intended to write recognition not ‘regconition’ in the above post. Thank you.
Those ideals have to be self sustaining .ie. the economy must be vibrant
1.You must have enough people using subways.
2.Security 24hrs
3.Steady power supply i. e lighting and ventilation
4.Resolve your drainage system in the city
5.Resolve your pathetic sanitary condition and general hygine.
Its not as simply showing people some similation
The Engineer(Australia) you ve always given the impression you are living abroad, australia to be more specific little did i realise you write all this cowdung from kalingalinga. Anyway someone once said ”kulibonesha taa”
Blair, what is wrong with Kalingalinga? I see nothing wrong with people from Kalingalinga, Metero, Mandevu, Kanyama, George, Bauleni, Lilanda, the rural Solwezi or Namwala.
I recently returned from Darwin and Perth in Australia (down under). Whilst in Australia, I met many Zambians who invited me into their homes. I was shocked in that my Zambians friends own a chain of roadtrains transporting heavy goods across Australia’s harsh land. Those people sound Auatralian.Those Zambians came from poverty striken backgrounds. Some of them are former residents of Mutendere. A lot of white folks are working for these hardworkers. Please do not judge anyone by focusing on his place of origin. Raise above such mediocrity and concetrate on the contents and contexts of his written work.
#26.1 Advocate,
That is what UNIP Dictator Kaunda who ran down the railway system in Zambia including the economy in Zambia used to say, “Kambani mpaka muleke ba ngwele imwe. Seleni tubombeko” & KK also told Zambians that, “Kumulu Lesa, panshi apa Kaunda wa muyayayaya.”
But when the gallant soldier Lt Luchembe announced on 30 June 1990 that the Zambia Army has taken over the govt, Kaunda forgot that he was the ruler of the earth (panshi apa Kaunda wa muyayayaya). The only thing KK could do was to pretend (actually he had DIARRHEA from fear & trembling) that he was sick & he was taken in an ambulance that with sirens on as if a serious patient was being taken to hospital!
This is what will happen to PF if u don’t change your violent attitude! U are acting like KK in the 80s
I attended the lecture, the main problem I noted with the professor is that he was too simplistic. Eg, he claims that he will design the trains and build them, he will or he has already designed the train rail stations, he has already done the calculations of the truck conditions etc etc, my question was, were are the other professionals? where are the design engineers, structural engineers, architects, planners, environmentalist, procurement specialist if he is going to do everything?
Professor Chirwa behaved as though he was delivering a lecture to first year students at University not accomplished professionals, many with practical experience that even Chirwa himself needed to learn from
I remember vividly how Prof. Chirwa designed tractors to suit Turkey ( a proposition the Zambian government of RB refused to accept from him) and then how RB asked to buy those tractors when he visited Turkey. Clive has been one of the lead designers of the landing gear of aircraft that makes landing of aircraft comfortable and feasible (without blowing their tyres). With a few of these credentials, I have no problem believing this guy can design his trains. Remember the architect doesn’t necessarily have to put the bricks and mortar. I believe the plan’s integrity is what results in a solid product…
My bro’, zambians like simplicity thats why now they are stuck with sata and fr bwalya, chanda chimba tried to remind them of the man’s history he ended up a villain,i have a friend living in UK he bluntly told me that zambians there hardly attend prof chirwa’s lecturers because he is too theoretical and always want to come out as the most intelingent,just as you have asked where were other proffessionals who could have assisted in the evaluation to arrive at that cost.but simple blacks called zambians can’t see your logic in the end they will describe you as being jelous or bitter according to their role models like kennedy sakeni otherwise in my view good observation thumbs up.
I am all for the idea. It is good that he made this presentation and that there were skeptics in the audience. What this was is a stake holder consultation in very broad terms.
He is clever to have done what he did. The challenges are not only his but those of the goevernment too. Therefore those hurdles that Mr Kavindele has highlighted are good to know and openly expose deterrents for development. Those departments need not operate that way at all.
If a project is viable which this one is, it is not that difficult to source funding.
A project must have a time frame and it is accept to revise project time lines because projects are susceptible to external influences.
He brings a fresh mind to Zambia and has ensured that he understands the challenges he faces.
Ati Automated gates .kaponyaz will be swiping. you people watch too much tv.It took decades to get what you see abroad.
So do you want Zambians to reinvent the wheel?
All said about CC, but what if he manages to do 70% (which is very good in Project Management circles) in these three years? That will be a plus!
Not even 10%, dont even allow him to start stripping that infrastructure no matter how dilapidated it is pantu takafikule nakabili.
The professor looks like his has been insulated from the reality in Zambia during his stay in the UK. I can understand his ambition for the rail development in the country. He mentions that he will raise money by flaoting 48% of ZR on Luse.
He does not mention whether a study has been done to establish the viability of this sale. I look at the trading volumes of LuSe in Dollar terms and it does not come close to the figures he is throwing around.
For arguments sake , let’s say the fiscus had the kind of money he is looking for, would our the KWA government be that naive to channel colossal sums to modernise the rail network at the expense of urgent and pressing needs like education, health , housing , agriculture, and the youth unemployment.
Ati Automated gates .kaponyaz will be swiping. you people you watch too much tv.It took decades to get what you see abroad.
can all the zambian engineers, please support him, let him also recruit qualifiied engineers to achieve his goals…
And the engineers ust come with their money.
It is a good project that is long overdue, though It would be interesting to see the detailed Project Proposal with the projected costs and time frame…. I equally think it is under-costed and too ambitious with time. Like some have said, five years would be the minimum while about ten years to complete the project. The wheels of Zambia move very slowly, look at the Constitution process. How much time it has taken and how much money spent on it. They don’t need to clear any land, nor do they need to import anything, later on to but a solar power station, but they are taking years to complete. Good project, but it needs revisiting ….
So, should we go the ZEMA way or ZEMA should go our way? Kavindele may have faced some problems which are politically initiated.
pathetic and negative comments from unschooled Zambians.You tell me of one major project in the World that has had an exact budget and exact timeframe?Let Clive Chirwa be given chance to perform.Atleast he has shown has an idea of how the railway system has been modelled,why can’t you the so called practical Zambians easily implement these ideas into tangible engineering benefits.For railway infrastructure,i do not think $1.5 billion is a little,guys we are not constructing a mine,Lumwana cost about $1billion??think boys and support Clive!!In any case,the project should cater for some contingencies,also the ZRL as a company is a good business model such that funding of it by financers should not be such a problem.ESKOM and Transnet rail have managed to raise funds from outside South…
Chikalaah chenu bakalamba.just tell us where he is going to get 1.5bln usd.aks yourself how much he can raise from luse.lastly people who constructed lumwana had a dream with capital ready on the table can you say the same with clive?be realistic
i like the project and wish i was there to here the discussion in person……i believe that whilst it took years to lay down tracks am sure with new technology the same work can be done in days.i just hope that the funding can be sourced on time .as for red tape the govt has to find ways of speeding up time on decision making……the project is viable coz we are land locked and with the mines exporting so much copper and us importing so much stuff all these things would be transported by rail increasing the life of our roads……good plan good project….but now its time to work
I dislike self defeated negative impossible talkers. African economies also have the same 24 hours per day as do Western countries.
Why should the West accomplish so much in 24 hours, when nothingness is our only score?
The cause of failure is all the educate ignorant negativity.
If the man charged with the trust of our railway concern says he wants the job done in three years, let him do it in three years.
Good project prof chirwa. Ba kavindele don’t mix development with business( maybe its the farm you sold to the Chinese when they lied to you that they will be producing potatoes and carrots and they ended up sinking shaft at your farm to mine copper) Let us give the professor support so that this can work.
Work measurement + Method study + hard work = achievement of the rail.
Chirwa is on the right track. All you punks filled with negative energy shove off! His initial ideas may not be perfect but, if you allow me to use a cliche; “these ideas are not cast in concrete”. He is at liberty to change course. No project has gone exactly according to initial plans.
Bwana Chirwa continue with your plan and don’t let allow losers to discourage you. Remember; men landed on the moon in 1969 and returned safely; Concorde was designed using slide rules – no calculators; Euro-tunnel wouldn’t have been built if scoffers had been allowed to have their way.
ba guy lets support this move .it will reduce accidents which are caused by these satanist the bus owners .viva prof
We wish the prof and his team a success and hope that he has plans to contain the Lusaka floods they are trully thinking of having an underground rail station in Lusaka. The garbage and street vendors might fallow them at the station and flood the station.
All he need is political will let’s support him he ll do it
The idea is great, simple minds discuss people, average minds discuss events and great minds discuss ideas and i guess Prof is a great minded person who did his homework and knows what he wants to do not just to move our country out of the overwhelmed railway challenges but to leave a legacy. By the way, he came home to prove a point so lets see how far he can go and our role is support him.
Coming from an engineering background, i go through the same PHD approach in a mngt team of colleagues who are not in my field and they call it wishfull thinking and when i deliver, they say favour was on my side. if we are one of the fastest growing economies, why not try what others haven’t tried?
I rest my case!!!
Lets talk about why zambia is not developing.. well it is because of everyone who passed a negative comment on a platform meant to creat hope for a better tomorrow. its funny how Zambia would talk down an idea like that? which member of the audience has studied what mr chilwa studied who has the same experience he has, can i out rightly say they were all speaking from what they have gone through and were not ready to see something like that because in most peoples minds according to them its something that can not be done, if we could stop seeing things the way they have been and see them in a new way then things would change. Zambians are so stuck to a certain pattern of thinking, unless the {we can do it message}is preached nothing will be attained. we need a revolution that will change
Lazy Zambians its time to get to work and not just talking everytime
singing dont fall in Love with a dreamer. this dreamer has already eaten four months into his three years contract and all we hear is this text book halucination. yes good to dream but remember when you wake up it will be three years and what will be your excuse. iwe ka Chirwa start working and stop dreaming. you cant revamp doba doba in three years
My take is that we should be looking at self sustainability of the railway system and not think we can subsidise it forever. Goods trains must be the main focus of the whole project considering the high cost of road repairs and construction. while passenger service could be used to as an addition. The UNIP govt borrowed heavily to undertake unsustainable projects and Zambia was in huge debt and the rest we know what we went through. Do we have to go through that route again. i believe NOT. Lets NOT be imitators of what other nations but we need to analyse our situation. Zambia will soon reach over 1 million tonnes of copper. do we wnat it on our roads?
Keep on dreaming!
Fingers crossed bane,mwilashinsha muntu talapwa na kunya.Lets try to positie minded people,some of you chaps you only keep on kususha.
MR. KAVINDELE IS CORRECT AN ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT STUDY FOR A BRIDGE WILL LAST 2 YEARS. A PHD IN ACADEMIA & A FEW RESEARCH PAPERS DON’T QUALIFY YOU TO RUN A BUSINESS OR AN UNDERTAKING OF THIS NATURE. THIS GUY NEVER RUN A BUSINESS & HAS NO CLUE. THAT’S. A PROJECT OF THIS UNDERTAKING EVEN IN THE US, JAPAN OR UK WILL TAKE AT THE VERY LEAST 10 YEARS TO DO FEASIBILITY STUDIES, PROCUREMENTS & BIDDING FOR MANAGEMENT SERVICES, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, CIVIL, STRUCTURAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DESIGNS; PROCUREMENTS & BIDDING FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES; CONSTRUCTION IMPLEMENTATION TO INCLUDE QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE. ALSO WHAT FINANCIAL MODEL IS HE USING TO JUSTIFY THE HUGE EXPENSES.
Kavindele is only right because his firm is building from scratch whereas ZRL is rehabilitating its own existing infrastructure…do you need ZEMA’s approval to upgrade your own existing bridge??
Walasa,zambians don’t like realists the like fantasies that’s why they end up mu bwato
George don’t be dull. ZRL already has land and infrastructure. They will just be expanding, rebuilding and modernising what is already there. So if you are within 50 meters on either side of the current rail line, just start moving your cargo elsewhere. Its well known not to squat on the rail sides…
We all as Zambians want a funtional rail system. But let us be realistic and use people wisely. This guy needs to be lecturing crashworthiness NOT running anything like this. If he had a clue he would not be day dreaming. Zambia has limited resources, which need to be used wisely and carefully.
Problem with us Zambians is we think development is building a school or hospital…etc. Those are neccesary liabilities. As much as they are important, they just chew tax payers money.
What the prof. wants to do is invest in something that will pay back by the moving of goods. I believe Zambia is rightly positioned to make money from our neighbors by moving goods . Just imagine all goods going through zambia are loaded on our rail linners and we transport to other countries. Good sustainable revenue and jobs.
We need thinkers dude!
This is what zambians reguir.vi have to go back to work,i know we can do the jod as zambians,work work and how long time 2020 ok for the nation.
Ok, let’s be positive for once and support the prof to get to work. At least many people can travel safely than on the roads which are claiming lives daily. I would rather travel two days from Lgston to Lska and arrive safe than travel faster and arrive in a bag.
Prof. Chirwa succeeded right from the word go. Engineering is exact. It is founded on equations. It deals in possible outcomes. It identifies problems and offers alternative solutions. Perhaps certain options would wait. But like it or not, a mid-week train is now running between Livingstone and Lusaka. The armchair critics will be sorry. History has no reverse gear. Zambia is on the move. Washala washala!!!!!
Problem with us Zambian’s is we are always too critical. The man has set a vision, what we need now is not to tear him apart but ask ourselves which part of his vision can we help with. If paper work takes long for an Enviromental assessment what’s the bottleneck and lets sort it. A Leader’s job is to set a vision, all the architectural things that we wonder over, all over the world derive from an impossible dream. So i would say job well down, what’s phase 1- let’s see the numbers and we can help sort the financing. Bane where there is a will there is a way- so dont show us your intellect when you have not shared any progressive vision wiith anybody- stick to teaching theories and let us doers do
This is the problem that most zambians have,they always want to criticize even where no necessary. Last evenings presentation by prof Chirwa was a success and those of us in the engineering sector understand exactly how this will work
In terms of power he mentioned Lusemfwa hydro and the use of a solar farm and i remember Cyprian Chitundu pledging Zesco’s support towards this project so did Bernard Chiwala on behalf of RDA. in case you don’t know a million jobs will be created via this project
The Lecture gave pipo to have insights into this great project, in such an a Lecture different views will arise and they have to be respected. The Proff’s Project at ZRL is a public one and has Blessings from Presido himself hence reason he was appointed as CEO, no regulatory issues ill be allowed to delay the proj. The former Veep has failed on a number of works so lets not use this to gauge Proff, this Man is respected for his contributions on various projects in his field world wide and he has peers he is consulting too. Give him a Chance to Mordern ZRL. President SATA wants this achieved quickly for the betterment of Zambians. I have put aside my KR100,000.00 to buy ZR shares once floated at LUSE that will be my contribution. Proff CC carry you a Great Son of ZED
Yeah man I agree with you
how about first something with something simple but obvious which we have failed to do in decades: MEND THE DAMN POTHOLES pa ma ROAD!!!!!
Impossible is never in my vocabulary. Difficult yes. Chirwa just do it dont listen to doomsdayers. After all Sata will get you the money
NOW all you calling us names because of being critical of clives dreams tell as for nce how he is going to raise that money,because the vision andthe costng has been outlayed what about the capital injection?is it going to be a loan? goverment funding? ppsp?or? You can simply have an illusion but you can’t simply get money,money,money.
Zambia needs an economic revolution, and them all passing negative comments, its time you began thinking out of your brain boxes..! We can do it, for our future generations.., GO Chirwa GO…!!!
Professor Chirwa’s vision is very fascinating, the only problem is :who will finance the $1.5 billion ? Zambia doesnt have the expertise to run such an advanced project, the infrustructure for a modern rail system is very mediocre and like what some professionals indicated…you are dreaming of an all electric high speed rail system in a country that is non sufficient on electric supply. This is an example of the emperor and his new clothese…realism is missing here.
$1.5b is too little for civil works alone.
There is simply not enough money for his plans. Anyone can see that. The problem I have with his plans is the manner in which he is going about to realize them. I am not surprised because this man is an academic. Otherwise, our country is in need of an efficient transport system to cater for the expanding mining sector.
Baane, this is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! did you know that it took 1000 trials to develop the light bulb? at least Prof. Chirwa has shown the way we should be thinking as a country. Stop the tutemba theories and grow up. Mbuya show them you are the next president of Zambia, under PF.
I think it’s wrong for anyone to begin pronouncing doom on the Prof’s plans. What we need is to encourage him by demonstrating where he’s missing the point. For example, we can suggest to him that he needs to break down his plans into smaller units the way he’s done with the new rail line. If this project has government’s full backing then issues of environmental impact assessment and procurement procedures could be managed easily. Lets criticise but in a constructive manner. Zambia needs to change and change now. And Prof Chirwa is a type of person we need to contribute to Zambia’s development. So lets encourage Clive to consult the relevant and helpful people and to tell him that it can be done. This project is viable, step by step. Go for it Clive!
With science nothing is imposible. Lets stop being negative.The man has good plans which can work. Lets give him all the support. When late F Kennedy became President of USA he stated that in one decade man will land on the moon but some prominent professor doubted very much and spoke gravit etc as impediments but it happened. I like Clive’s plans.
lol.. There is a difference between Management and Engineering if you get my drift.
$1.5b is too little for civil works. people that are excited are social scientists
Are you seriously saying K8trillion (KR8billion) is not enough money?
It all depends on who is contracted to do the job!
Clive beware of Zambian contractors! They quote to kill!!
I have managed big projects with money my critics said was too little!
It is all about personal Integrity and assembling the right group to work with!
Just the mere number of comments shows that Zambians have been presented with a new way of thinking they are not used to.
I see it this way:- Just for a Zambian to come up with such a plan is an achievement in it self. It gives hope. If Clive achieves even half of his plan in twice the time, its still a big achievement.
Lets just support and see how far he goes. After all you and me have nothing to lose.
Those critics are baseless, this is a GRZ program and the question raised by Kavindele of red tape will never be there, just support this man CC….atleast CC can demostrate that Zambia can have a changed transport sector in Fast Moving Trains, all the best CC
dont put him down but rather advise on ways to actually achieve this vision..countries like japan developed with vision and hardwork ka..so its gud he has a vision.railways are the best way to trasport cargo every jim and jack knows that..and we need to start using trains for public trasport-we need to get off the roads
I have been reading and enjoying all these brilliant expert views and the overwhelming support for Pro Chirwa’s vision until I came to bloggers on # 26.1, 26.2 & 26.3 who unnecessarily resorted to shameful, derogatory and insulting language where they did not spare their own mothers. Do some people find it hard to debate intelligently without insults?
Well put! And i began just because of one ‘SHAKA OZ’ making his usual annoying totally unrelated comments! Thank God the story is not on ZWD (touch wood) the insults there would have been unbearable. Just look at how they are insulting Masebo over some unconfirmed ZAWA story.
What is the name of that man who built the trans-atlantic railway? The french man who built the suez canal? These men were ambitious and they achieved. There are such men in the world. Let us not plunder this chance to use our own prof Chirwa. They don’t come in any other form. Let us support this and move with the tide.
When are we ever going to do anything worthy the record in building our country?
Prof. Chirwa, you have worked on similar projects for Australia and the Uk etc let no one discourage you. Your goal is very much achievable. I support you all the way.
the prof has set a target which is also linked with the PF govt, so chances are, it will succeed as the PF would want to leave a legacy more so in the next 3 years since it will be election time. All bottle necks everyone is talking about can be overcome by the govt machinery. we know our president can over rule the rule of law so if ZEMA is taking long our president will go to ZEMA and force them to work faster so that the project goes on. i think if the will by the govt is there this project will succeed
The problem in Zambia is the “PhD Syndrome”! See how negatively charged the mind sets are in this country called Zambia! Shame on us!
Talk of a Profet in his home country!
It is actually a shame that in this country we think it is the foreigner who will develop this country. Unfortunately this disease plagues both the so called educated and the illiterate. We all know the “muzungu Wanga Syndrome” accorded to foreigners.
We need to support Prof Chirwa! To the so called learned, we need to sort out our own analysis paralysis syndrome which is the reason for this country’s backwardness!
Fact, fact, fact, can agree with you more. He’s making a hell of mistake if he’s relying on roads engineers at ZIE because they WILL shoot down anything new.
meant ” …can’t agree more…”
Its not always automatic that the best academic brains make the best entrepreneurs,i take this with a pinch of salt though at the same time not being a prophet of doom.Creating a time horizon based on funds that might or are not available is one of the biggest obstacles to business success.If you look at raising finance on the Lusaka stock exchange its virtually impossible to raise even half of that amount there and needless to say the amount of time it will take for an initial IPO to materialize.Moreover how many investors in form of institutional and individual investors on Luse will be willing to take up the IPO.
Questions worth asking but i really think you need such Charismatic and visionary executives.
All the best professor.
He who says it can not be done should not discourage the one who says it can be done. If that was the case, europe was going to be as underdeveloped as Afrika. No man could have even gone to the moon or space. we were not going to have computers, internet, blueberry,blabla …bla. so let the prof try.
In olden days in Rome, not trying was a punishable offence.
Zambia needs more dreamers like this one to develop. If were had even ten of them, we would fly high up. Best wishes, Prof.
I attended the lecture and it was such a great inspiration. He has a great vision and the whole project is SMART. For me, Prof posed a serious challenge to not only engineers but many professionals. With the support and goodwill from Govt, the board and all stakeholders, we are yet to see Zambia turn round. Yes, I may not agree with everything but the positive outweighs the negative. I would actually urge Prof to share the same vision on television for the public to see the direction we are going in.
I will be the first one to sign up once ZRL starts taking on Engineers but I a country were by-elections are P1 3yrs and 1.5bn is but a dream.
I think Chirwa is too skinny on business side of think..thinks and talks like an Engineer… He need to tells if Zed or ZR has resources to carry out such project or it will be a turn-key project to be done by china-men… Nevertheless I like dreamers like him…
I think Chirwa is too skinny on business side of things..thinks and talks like an Engineer… He need to tells if Zed or ZR has resources to carry out such project or it will be a turn-key project to be done by china-men… Nevertheless I like dreamers like him…
GIVE HIM TIME TO PROVE HIS EXPERIENCE ,LETS LEARN TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, IF OTHER HAVE DONE IT IN THE OTHER PARTS OF THE GLOBE,HOW ABOUT US ,SEE HOW MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS LEAVING OUR COUNTRY AND YET THEY SAY WE ARE POOR
With this attitude we might as well forget about ever being called a developed country/continent one day. We are so comfortable with the status quo that anything that attempts to put our brains to work is shot down at birth because we just don’t like to work. We have been producing engineers for God knows how long but can anyone point at just one thing our own engineers have initiated? Zero.
I honestly wish Professor Chirwa all the very best and i pray i will live to see an electric train in my beloved Zambia but i would advice him to surround himself with well exposed Zambian engineers and avoid at all cost the likes that make up 90% of ZIE because all they know is road construction, anything else they will vehemently resist for they would be out of their depth.
I CAN’T AGREE MORE WITH YOU. LET ME ALSO EMPHASISE ON YOUR POINT. PLEASE, PROF. CHIRWA, DO NOT SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THOSE ZAMBIAN ENGINEERS BACHAKOLWA FYE WITH NO ENGINEERING ARCHIEMENTS BEHIND THEM. THEY ARE ALREADY JEALOUS OF YOU AND THEY WILL GO TO ANY LENGTH TO SHOOT YOUR PLANS DOWN. I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO EMPLOY FROM OVERSEAS WHERE THERE’S A POOL OF QUALIFIED AND PRACTICALLY EXPERIENCED AND PIONEERED ENGINEERS. AND THEN EMPLOY A GOOD NUMBER OF GRADUATING ENGINEERS WHO WILL LEARN FROM THOSE REAL ENGINEERS FOR CONTINUITY. IT’S GOOD YOU ARE ALREADY TALKING TO CBU. WE THE ORDINARY ZAMBIANS ARE BEHIND YOU. DON’T WORRY ABOUT ENGINEERS WHO CAN ONLY ENGINEER NSIMA MU KAMWA.
my people never fail to disappoint.NEVER BEEN DONE DOESNT MEAN CANT BE DONE MWEFYUNGWA IMWE
Why is that so main Zambians are dull, for God’s sake why is that you cannot analysis issues only justifying your opinion because Dr Chirwa has a PHD , We are where we are now as a nation because of the same mentality, no wonder PF is taking us back to local languages as means of communication may be our grandchildren will grow up with analytical skills. The project is good on paper but we don’t have resources to implement such a massive project. I myself i don’t think it’s invest able, you will never get your returns so i don’t know how he will raise nine tenth of $1.5 billion when the Govn’t has only committed one tenth. It will cost more . Remember project s cost always will over run the budget. He has not come clear how much is expected to raise when the project is fully…
He is just another job-seeker. Period
more like brain midget
In Europe these project are given to people like prof Chirwa because he is an engineer with a vision and passion, let government worry about the money side of things. It’s about time we started working on ambitious projects. Nigeria built a whole city from scratch. Kenya is investing in what will be Africa’s equivalent of silicon valley. We have our all weather friends, the Chinese with a wealth of expertise and a massive cheque book. Let’s build our country bane. This man needs our support all the way. If his sums don’t add up, let’s involve the experts to advise on how we can achieve and not how we can make him look silly. He has showed us his vision so let’s do something for our country and not just sit and expecting all the time.
Nicali boobu, nicali cibotu. Ba Prof. Chirwa, way to go. I like your discussing things with the public first. How I wish other politicians entrusted with power in Zambia would emulate your principles.
Clive Chirwa has done his bit. He has a dream and the desire to deliver for mother Zambia. He is experienced in the Engineering field. What we need to do is first agree that we need this piece of infrastructure. Then we must have experts in project financing to buy into the idea and help him with possible finance options. If we have any Gold reserves let’s auction them. If we can use LuSE let’s do it! If we can court Chinese soft loans let’s do it. If it means every Zambian donating a 50 Kwacha do it! It means all of us getting involved. I urge govt to tell ZEMA not to be funny about this. We need to move. With Chiwala at RDA, Chitundu at ZESCO and CHIRWA at ZRL we can do great things.
Clive Chirwa has done his bit. He has a dream and the desire to deliver for mother Zambia. He is experienced in the Engineering field. What we should do is first agree that we need this infrastructure. Then we must have experts in project financing to buy into the idea and help him with possible finance options. If we have any Gold reserves let’s auction them. If we can use LuSE let’s do it! If we can court Chinese soft loans let’s do it. If it means every Zambian donating a 50 Kwacha do it! It means all of us getting involved. I urge govt to tell ZEMA not to be funny about this. With Chiwala at RDA, Chitundu at ZESCO and CHIRWA at ZRL we can do great things.
I love the Idea and vision he has for Zambia Railways. The figures are off somewhat,; it would end up being much higher. switching to electric is a fine idea, if only we could fix the headaches at ZESCO and our underutilization of the potential hydro power (here’s why building little Hydro stations is a bad idea, build bigger ones where possible and use smaller ones as secondary stations). Solar powered tracks/ trains will be wildly expensive you’ll find. Major changes needed to improve work ethic and leadership pa Zed, Prof. Chirwa seems to lack neither. Meanwhile, Kabimba is still pushing for eliminating chizungu and Kambwili wants more football stadiums like it’s some aphrodisiac or something. Dweebs.
It ll started with the man who said that the world was round,they lynched him for blasphemy,then the Wright brothers who deamed of building a craft which could fly,they were regarded as jockers.Then the man who thought of flying to the moon,it was unachievable.Prof Chirwa has a dream worth supporting,look at his detractors,fellow professionals,what kind of morons are we?
My advice to professor Chirwa is not to igonored anyone saying it is impossible. NASA is planning on sending people to Mars and yet some backward Zambians think having a modern decent rail system is impossible. People saying it is impossible are the ones who lived in Zambia too long and have been mixing with impossible oriented people so everythig seems impossible to them. Watch them people that speak impossibilities and if they still work for ZRL please fire them and move forward. Lets all be united with this visionary and nothing will be impossible when we unite. The system he is talking about should have been in Zambia over a decade ago, this time we should have been thinking about having our satellite system for our phones, GPS and other things. Trains don’t have to be powered by…
Clive KEEP YOUR PLAN as the yard stick, your approach is viable, obviously King cobra wants to deliver, am sure he will nudge all stumbling blocks to help you achieve!! Leave doubters where they belong!! Funding is NO ISSUE IF YOU CAN CONVINCE INVESTORS – so “Just do it!!”
It’s a nice proposition. But does Zambia have that much money to spend on railway, wouldn’t we rather build a couple of world class hospitals in each province. To get an idea how much such a project would cost take a look at this link
http://www.railway-technical.com/finance.shtml
Let us all give support to Prof. Chirwa, his ideas are good and with support from every well meaning Zambia, we can advance.
Personally, I intend to stand with his plans and do all I can, including using rail transport for my travels.
Zambia forward!
Phase one will be the demolition of structures, permanent or temporary, erected and/or affixed within 50 meters on either side of the national railway line from independence avenue Overpass Bridge near the COMESA traffic circle southwards to Lilayi siding near Lilayi Police College.Phase two will be the demolition of structures permanent or temporary, erected and/or affixed within 50 meters on either side of the ZESCO 132 kilovolt (kv) overhead high tension electricity pylons from Lilayi siding northwards up to Kamwala level crossing near downtown shopping mall.Phase three will be the demolition of structures permanent or temporary, erected and/or affixed within 20 meters on either side of the Lusaka Water and Sewerage bulk water pipe from Kafue water intake at Iolanda waterworks through
all well meaning Zambians should support this man he has vision . If people in Zambia we thinking like the Prof Chirwa this country would have been far, it’s a pity we have people who always want to discourage others. The idea from pro. Chirwa is good and it can been archived all we need is hard work and commitment…….. Pro. Chirwa if you read this message I say to you please don’t get discouraged by the comments people are making you have the support from Government and remember the man of action is in support of you too. Good Luck Sir !!!!!!
All skeptics and doomsayers concern here is money. Where will the money come from? If we are agreed in the first place and for once we decide to put PHD and jealousy agendas aside, we can source the money. The technical abilities in doing this we may not worry about because I know that many other Zambian Engineers and technicians will come on board. And we can not forget to import our all weather friends, the Chinese to help us with this. CAN KAVINDELE BARE HIS BRAIN BY GIVING A PUBLIC LECTURE ON THE NORTH-WEST RAILWAY PROJECT? Let’s see his models and why ZEMA took/takes 2 years to read his EIA report or else…
The cost of recent surface light rail lines has ranged from a low of $43 million per mile in Norfolk, VA to a high of $204 million per mile for the new Milwaukie line in Portland. Los Angeles’s Crenshaw Line , which includes short subway sections, clocks in at $165 million per mile. In Toronto, the Eglinton LRT line, which consists of almost a 50/50 split between surface and subway operation, is estimated to cost C$403 million per mile, which as of May 2012 was about equal to US$400 million per mile. In contrast, the Canada Line in Vancouver, which is about 70% underground with most of the rest being elevated, only cost C$177 million per mile – a low amount attributed to its cut-and-cover construction and very short station platforms (at 50m they can only accommodate two car train sets)…
Does that include labour costs?
@MMD Chief Bootlicker. Those are words of wisdom and I’m totally in agreement with you. What seems to surprise me in Zambia is that people have a habit of shooting great ideas even though they have no clue. Again, you said the the Prof. he should expect alot of criticism but as long as he does not loose heart, he will make it.
Where is the prof getting his figures and why compare electric power to coal?…..http://publictransport.about.com/od/Transit_Projects/a/How-Much-Do-Rail-Transit-Projects-Cost-To-Build-And-Operate.htm
GREAT MINDS THINK, MEDIOCRE MINDS TALK ABOUT PEOPLE.
ZAMBIANS, ZAMBIANS,
I REMEMBER VIVIDLY SOME PEOPLE SOME FEW YEARS AGO THOT CONSTRUCTING A MODERN STADIUM WAS IMPOSSIBLE IN ZAMBIA,HA ,HA HA, HA!
THAT’S THE TROUBLE WITH MOST ZAMBIANS. THEY ARE NOT ARCIEVERS. THEY WANT CHIRWA NOT TO APPEND TIME TO THE PROJECT FOR THE SAKE OF NOT GETTING EMBARRASED THEMSELVES. MIND YOU ZAMBIANS ARE TIRED OF WAITING ENDLESSLY. GO CHIRWA GO. SHAME THE DEVILS. THEY HAVE MISUSED FUNDS IN THEIR PROJECT- SO THEY ARE TRYING TO DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO FRUSTRATE YOU. I HAVE WITNESSED PROJECTS HERE WHICH HAVE BEEN ARCHIED IN NO TIME.
Let those in the old age continue passing disparaging comments. Time for development is now, and Prof Chirwa has started it. There is nothing over ambitious as long as its development. the 8000km and 2000km projects should be matched with a good railway network. Lets reduce heavy ladden trucks on the roads, reduce unsolicited conjestion and enjoy the fruits of education coupled with selflessness
There is still such as thing as prudence and she is not the girl next door. It implies “good judgment in the use of resources” and “caution or circumspection as to danger or risk”. Prof. Chirwa must be prudent in both thought and deed.
you guys have to consider labour costs, people in zambia dont get $50 an hour for some manul labour, projects in the USA,UK or Australia cost a lot because of labour cost, for instance a dump truck driver in Australia gets atleast $150K a year, in zambia mybe $8000 if they are lucky. this greatly reduces the cost of projects in zambia
The issue is not whether he can or cannot do it. It is whether what he is proposing is necessary and timely. It is not just what you can build; it is also what you can sustain. Let us say we had the 1.5 billion he wants and we build the thing he wants. What happens three years from now, five years from now, ten years from now. Do we have the financial and human resources to sustain it? What happens if copper prices fall? What happens if china’s economy goes down? There are too many questions, too many unknowns which is why a simpler, gradual, measured, long term approach is better.
There’s nothing absolutely wrong for the professor to come up with a time frame for the project. The main culprits is us the Zambians pipo because we still feel we can never attain some high levels in life. We go just next door to South Africa and we wonder how developed the country is. We must learn to appreciate pipo with vision for the country. Not until u live abroad that’s when u realize u can do whatever every other being can achieve. When we only had independence stadium we thought we couldn’t have a modern stadiums because we have such a negative attitude toward ourselves. In this time and era u have to give yourself a timeframe to achieve goals and if u don’t attain them in that period u just increase the period. So support the cause until the said period. Lets go Team Chirwa
Good Ideas, good goals. Countries like the US or UK where Mr Sata once worked, developed faster than others, because they had a few dreamers/overachievers that other people considered unrealistic. The people acted on their dreams and put their countries ahead. Be it Prof Chirwa or not, someone will have to transform our transport system. Over 40 years since independence now and we still don’t own an electric train! Good lord, they are not only fast but a cheaper form of transportation.
sufferin from culture shock he is
The Engineering Institute of Zambia says it is technically possible to create an underground rail line in Lusaka as suggested by Zambia Railways Chief Executive Officer, Clive Chirwa.
Institute President Bernard Chiwala has told ZNBC that Zambia has the knowledge, experience and expertise in creating and managing underground tunnels especially on the Copperbelt.
He says Engineers from the Copperbelt can be engaged to help create a tunnel in Lusaka where rail line can pass.
Zambia Railways Chief Executive Officer, Professor Clive Chirwa plans to construct an underground rail line for passenger trains to decongest traffic in the City.
This is what progress is all about. Applying existing tried and tested technologies elsewhere. I’m sure some of our so called Engineers must be asking themselves why they didn’t think of this.
Right now there are marketeers selling their merchandise on Lusaka rail tracks if you do not mind!
Zambeziland, mother Zambia is destined for greater things. We only need to pool our human and material resource together.
Keep coming on positive people of Zambia. Our land is endowed with both human a natural resources to be poor. Initiative and will power by all stake holders is needed.
LT, how long does it take your site to moderate comments?
Someone comes with all these great feasible ideas and all you tell is that he won’t succeed? Like seriously? There’s something wrong with many on you Zambians. IMPOSSIBLE is a very sensitive word, don’t abuse it. What Pr Chirwa is envisioning is POSSIBLE, those who say otherwise are shallow minded. Suggest ways in which he can overcome difficulties and not just saying won’t succeed.
Clive you have always been and always will be an inspiration to all who want to make progress. You just need some good people to help you. Good luck!
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I almost never drop remarks, but after looking at a few
of the responses here Zambia : Audience pick holes and short
comings in Prof Clive Chirwa’s mega ZRL dream at public lecture.
I actually do have 2 questions for you if it’s okay. Could it be only me or do a few of the remarks appear as if they are written by brain dead people? 😛 And, if you are writing at additional online social sites, I would like to keep up with everything new you have to post. Could you list of every one of all your public pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?