A GOODS train shutting on Chipata -Mchinji railway to signify the operationalise of the long awaited project which was conceived during the UNIP regime.Here a goods lomocotive with wagons captured in Chipata1 — A GOODS train shutting on Chipata -Mchinji railway to signify the operationalise of the long awaited project which was conceived during the UNIP regime.Here a goods lomocotive with wagons captured in Chipata

PRIVATE Sector Development Association (PSDA) Chairperson Yusuf Dodia has said the operatiolisation of the Chipata-Mchinji railway line project will attract exports and imports transportation between Zambia and the Asian continent via Chipata.

On Tuesday, The Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) Nacala Director Vyonsi Manda announced the operationalisation of the long awaited Chipata –Mchinji Railway Line project
Mr Dodia said in a Press Query Response yesterday that this would be so because Chipata-Mchinji railway line was providing as an alternate route to the Indian Ocean via Mozambique Nacala corridor.

He said he was hopeful if the Chipata-Mchinji was facilitated well then the country should see increased in trade through the same route.

“This will attract exports and imports transportation between Zambia and the Asian continent via Chipata. Hopefully if facilitated well, then we should see increased trade on this route,” he said.

Futhermore, Mr Dodia said Zambia would be encouraged to see development of the railway line to link TAZARA via Petauke District.

He said the success of railway transport in Zambia depends on installing effective management in the sector and clear accountability mechanisms with benchmark targets to be set for development of the network.

Mr Dodia said the cargo or passenger would increase to displace road transport as key success indicators.

He said Zambia was likely to experience slow economic growth in 2014 owing to the weak implementation of Statutory Instrument (SI) 55 on export revenues accountability.

“ The withdrawal of this mechanism will stifle private sector growth and leave the development of the economy in the hands of the banks and government interaction with the banking sector as is highlighted by Government increasing its domestic borrowing from K200 million to K13 billion,” he said.

11 COMMENTS

kalindawalo bob March 28, 2014 At 7:54 am

another white elephant…i dont see this working for long.
more plans March 28, 2014 At 9:06 am

AN ADVISE TO THE GOVT RULED BY A HEADLESS CHICKEN,CAN U IMMEDIATELY TERMINATE THE CONTRACT OF THE CONTRACTOR WORKING ON THE ISOKA MUYOMBE ROAD.I CAN ASSURE U THAT ,THAT ROAD WILL NEVER FINISH WITH THE SAME CONTRACTOR.THAT CONTRACTOR CHINA JIANGXI IS NOT A REAL CONTRACTOR.THOSE ARE JUST CROOKS,THEY ARE NOT CAPABLE THOUGH AM AWARE THAT SOME CORRUPT POLITICIANS ARE IN LEAGUE WITH THEM.NO CONSULTANT CAN MANAGE TO CONTROL THEM BCOZ THEY BOAST THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN GOOD BOOKS WITH STATE HOUSE.TERMINATE THAT CONTRACT U CHICKENS IF U ARE SERIOUS.READ THIS YAMFWA.
John Kondolo March 28, 2014 At 9:19 am

Whoever the reporter is where in the world of English grammar did you get the word OPERATIONALISATION from. I think this word is a Lusaka times word and expresses the level of our reporters and journalists English.
I quote the reporter, “On Tuesday, The Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) Nacala Director Vyonsi Manda announced the operationalisation of the long awaited Chipata –Mchinji Railway Line project”.
ok March 28, 2014 At 11:36 am

Just appreciate what the government has done.To be honest with you,iam impressed and i dont ned someone to tell me otherwise.
Nakabalika March 28, 2014 At 5:07 pm

Just hope it won’t facilitate smuggling of minerals from disputed “lower Zambezi”.
imwe March 28, 2014 At 5:17 pm

Look the low number of people contributing to this articles.It tells alot about us zambians.We dont wont to hear about anything good.Everything has been politicised.
mj March 28, 2014 At 8:10 pm

Fellow bloggers, to be honest this is a good project. Let us welcome such and stop commenting retrogressively.
- Agressive Muntanga March 28, 2014 At 9:42 pm
  
  If managed properly and profitably yes it is a good project. Nomba pa zed awe fye sure. By the way what is the state of Zambia Railways balance sheet as at the end of its financial year?
- Agressive Muntanga March 28, 2014 At 9:44 pm
  
  Sorry actually meant last financial year.
Jay Jay March 28, 2014 At 10:17 pm

There is opportunity here instead of writing it down put on your thinking caps and maximize this…lets be exporters as well instead of importers and benefit regardless whether the Kwacha goes down or up!!
Harold Muna March 30, 2014 At 12:08 am

This is a project that was initiated in the 70’s in the UNIP days. Construction only started in the 80’s. Then they ran out of funds. For years nothing happened. In 2006, the project got underway again. This is 2014. The distance between Chipata and Mchinji is about 32km.

I am not playing the project ‘down’, but people must understand the context in which we work, ‘develop’ and maintain. How many other ‘projects’ have we stalled on in the last 50 years? Where would we have been had we done certain things earlier?