Tanzania Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) Managing Director, Engineer Bruno Ching’andu has bemoaned the poor state of infrastructure and equipment at various Railway Stations.
Addressing workers at Kasama Railway Station yesterday on his continued tour of all the stations in Tanzania and Zambia, Engineer Ching’andu said he has seen for himself that workers were working under difficult conditions.
Engineer Ching’andu said workers and their families are living in dilapidated housing units, risking their lives, while some equipment and tools being used are also obsolete and require urgent replacement.
He said this scenario can only be changed if all the workers worked together to improve the performance of the railway company.
Engineer Ching’andu said his team has embarked on a vigorous programme to market the company in order to bring more customers to the company.
He said that all the workers should join in the marketing of the company so that they can have more customers and make more money for the company.
Engineer Ching’andu said once the company has started making enough money, it will be very easy to buy various tools, equipment and pay good salaries.
“It is possible to turn round the fortunes of TAZARA but this requires team work and dedication to duty at all levels of the organisation.
He said that communication from station to station for the smooth running of trains is currently bad because workers are depending on mobile providers for effective communication.
Engineer Ching’andu said the plans of the company are to acquire dependable communication gadgets to be used at all the stations on the railway line so as to protect the lives of the travelling public and their goods.
The workers have appealed to the railway company to consider increasing salaries and conditions of service once it starts running effectively and make more money.
And the workers Union at Kasama has appealed to management to consider removing what they called as dormant over time which they said is a drain to the company’s meager resources.
The Union is also worried with the rampant encroachment of TAZARA land and rail strip on the Zambian side which they said it getting out of hand.
TAZARA MD is Engineer Ching’andu is on line tourtour of the stations between Dar-es-salaam in Tanzania and New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.
Engineer Ching’andu is making his debut visit of all the 94 railway stations on the 1,860 km stretch of the railway line following his appointment on April 25 this year.
The line inspection tour of the TAZARA MD has coincided with the 40th Anniversary of commercial operations in the two sister countries since the Chinese Government handed over the operations on July 14, 1976 to the authority.
Engineer Ching’andu is taking time to talk to the workers encouraging them on the need to work as a team and regain the lost glory.
Engineer Ching’andu says his vision is to regain the lost glory of the railway company that has over the years performed badly, losing a lot of customers in the process.
The TAZARA MD is accompanied by Marketing Manager Evariste Kasumbai, Regional Manager Patrick Shangala, Civil Chiefs Engineer Chomba Chomba, Manager Planning and Corporate Justine Kabela and Head-Public Relations Conrad Simuchile.
Nigaz can’t run anything, just give the Chinese to run it.
Unprecedented infrastructure development in true colours.
The TZ govt are currently in negotiations with partners to improve their infrastructure. TAZARA liase with your partners. Not just bemoan
Ask chisamba hippo Kambwili….he can lend you the luanshya rail he stole……..
U HAVE NO VISION BWANA MD, YOU CANT SAY MY VISION IS TO TURN AROUND THE FORTUNES OF TAZARA CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW ARE YOU GONNA DO IT DIFFERENT FROM DR akashambatwa Lewanika the BEST md the company ever had
Africans! They are so used to crying for someone to help them. This railway is not even a quarter of the age of Zambia Railways but all the infra-structure is rotten already. Dont you know maintenance, refurbishment, management?