THE CHINA Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) intends to embark on the construction of the railway from Chipata to Mpika station and from Nseluka to Mpulungu at a total sum of US$ 2.7 billion.
This means that Eastern line would cost of US$ 1,992,028,500 while the Northern line would gobble US$ 668,115,000 at a US$ 3 million per kilometre for the two lines.
The total length for the two lines is 760.04 kilometres.
In 2011, the Chinese company signed the feasibility agreement with the Zambian Government on the construction of the Chipata to Tazara at Mpika via Petauke and Nseluka to the port of Mpulungu railway lines in Eastern and Northern Provinces.
CCECC vice president Zhao Zhongning when he paid a courtesy call on assistant secretary Beenzu Chikuba disclosed in Chipata yesterday that this would be done after the company had successfully completed the feasibility studies on the construction of the railway line.
Mr Zhao said the construction of Eastern line would be done concurrent saying it would be constructed within five years.
He explained that the company would embark on the construction of the railway lines for Eastern and Northern lines beginning next year.
He said the Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) between the Government of Zambia and his company are expected to be signed this week with Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Rowland Msiska for the construction of the railway line.
He said the construction of the railway from Mpika to Chipata would cover 569.151 kilometres while the liner from Nseluka to Mpulungu extends a total of 190.89 kilometres.
Mr Zhao said his company was currently enjoying the cordial relationship with the Zambia and Tanzania because of the already existing railway line.
He said the construction of the railway line would assist in the integration and promotion of economic developments in Eastern and Northern Zambia.
The vice president said Zambia’s main sea route channel for import and export of goods to East African community and SADC would be entirely dependent on the railway line.
He also disclosed that the company was planning to construct the railway designed with electronic in order to easy the movements of goods and services in the country.
And Mr Chikuba said the Government was pleased with the company for starting to construct the two rail lines.
She said the Government was looking forward to working the CCECC in the construction of important links such as the railway line in the country.
The Eastern line, the railway line starts from Mpika station advances through the mountainous regions at the west foot of the Muchinga escapements passes the Chipelembe, Musalemo and Chikonde regions to Chipata town while the Northern line traverses from Nseluka and passes through Ngolo, Kaunguluka, Katebula to the port of Mpulungu.
Now you are talking. The large the railway network for the country, the better for the country in every respect of the transport economics.
This is good work. Anything that eases pressure off the road network is welcome. Good works GRZ.
A life mfwaya iyi………..
We only hope that these links will be used for economic development. Am waiting to hear about the completion of the Zambia Angola route as this has a larger positive impact on our economy. Opposition parties needs to come up with brainy criticisms of they’re to remain afloat in our political dynamics. Otherwise I see no opposition leader who can much upto our current president.
This is very GOOD!!!!!!!!!!
That’s welcome . But I feel and think that the line to Angola should have been priortalised and be given first hand attention.
That rout has more economic value and can give more returns on capital invested than the dreams of the eastern line. No political attached to this comment please.
@6 TO SOME EXTENT I AGREE WITH YOU. BUT, TO A LARGER EXTENT ONE WOULD CONCLUDE THAT YOU DON’T KNOW ZAMBIA VERY WELL. THEREFORE, YOU DO NOT KNOW VERY MUCH WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. CONNECTING CHIPATA TO MPULUNGU IS VERY ECONOMIC IN WHICHEVER WAY YOU MAY THINK OR EVEN DREAM ABOUT IT. MPULUNGU CONNECTS ZAMBIA TO 4 COUNTRIES WITH VERY HUNGRY STOMACHS. THEY NEED FOOD AND OTHER THINGS IN LARGE QUANTITIES. THIS WILL TRIGGER FARMING AT A SCALE ZAMBIA HAS NEVER WITNESSED IN NORTHERN, MUCHINGA AND EASTERN PROVINCES. MOREOVER,THESE PROVINCES ARE TOURIST SPOTS-NSUMBU, NDOLE, NSAMA BAYS ARE ALL ON LAKE TANGANYIKA. SO, EASY CONNECTIONS FROM THIS BAYS TO LUANGWA NATIONAL PARKS.
Ba Peter you are right my brother. In addition ba GM needs to understand Zambia is trading more with the eastern countries and this railway line connects us to Nacala port in Mozambique. The connection at Mpika means connection of the Copperbelt to the Nacala port . Bearing in mind that China and South Korea are the major buyers of our copper etc i do not see why we should priorities on a railway that links us to a port on the Atlantic Ocean?
This is very good news, especially that, it will create employment for the locals in the short-run, and ease means of transportation. I hope that this wont be politicized…but supported by all well-meaning Zambians. Kudos GRZ.
Seleni abombeko bane. Ifintu ni …………. till 2021
I support this 100%, but when is the Govt supposed to pass a law to ban cargo above a certain tonnage passing on our roads? The rate at which our roads are getting damaged due to heavy cargo, and the cost of repairing the roads is not sustainable. Minister of Works made this statement before MCS demise, whats the pln. The Ndola Kapiri road is already damage and quickly becoming a death trap
Haters will hate
Why start something when Chipata-muchiji is not working and it is badly vandalized. Am a chipata resident, it pathetic to see how our tax is being mismanaged. Some one-two years now PF has being talking about making this rail line functional but after looting monies from the euro-bond the rail-line is now a white elephant.
“He also disclosed that the company was planning to construct the railway ”’designed with electronic”’ in order to easy the movements of goods and services in the country.”
GUYS, WRITE YOUR ENGLISH PROPERLY, “DESIGNED WITH ELECTRONIC”. WHAT DID YOU MEAN TO SAY? DID YOU THINK THEY WILL BE DRAWING ON A PIECE OF PAPER WITH PENCIL? TODAY COMPUTERS ARE USED FOR DESIGNING RAILWAYS AND TRAINS. IF YOU MEAN THAT TRAINS WILL BE ELECTRONIC, THEN RE-EDIT YOUR ARTICLE. HAVING SAID THAT, THOSE TRAINS MUST BE ELECTRICALLY POWERED AND ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. THERE WILL BE NO POINT BUILDING THE SAME DOBADOBA AT THIS TIME AND AGE. THIS SHOULD BE THE INCEPTION FOR ELECTRONIC/ELECTRICAL TRAINS IN ZAMBIA. ZAMBIA MUST MODERNISE- SIMPLE AS THAT. THIS IS NO STONE AGE. THOSE BILLIONS ARE A LOT…
Brilliant. That what we wanna hear.
That’s what we wanna hear about.
The fruits of the trip to china. Following up on progress but people said a lot of things to the extent of even tearing up their lungs with pressure. Please let’s respect and love each other. Take one day at a time because tomorrow may not be ours.
ebuteko ubu ubwa PF.We need such developments.We don’t want to go to south africa and be killed .All Zambians should learn that investing in yo own country is the best thing to do.
God bless our country and our leaders.kikiki living in foreign land is tough mwe.Ine ni pa zambia i learnt a big lesson in diaspora
African nationalists chased way the British only to invite the neo-colonialists – the Chinese!!!!! What was the point of chasing one colonialist only to invite another?
This is great news guys! I need to find a farm plot nearby the railline before ba mukolwe tabalaisa.
They rail link to angola will never materialise because its being promoted by a zambian. That’s our mentality, we will never support our own.
The chinese will come to zed whether it is Eric Chanda, Edith or Elias in state house. The day will be when George Sokota, GBM, EPK, Milupi, Sindowe,HH, Mukela Jr & many other wealth zambians can invest their money in these huge infrastructures. These guys can easily rope together $2.7b international financing to do this but which zambian will support it. Kaunda taught us to hate ourselves.