Last year, the company submitted a concession draft to the Ministry of Transport and Communication, which has not been signed. The agreement is inevitable as it defines the relationship that would exist between North-west Rail Company, the financiers and Government.
North-West Railway chief executive officer Enoch Kavindele said the firm has already scheduled a meeting with the newly-appointed Minister of Transport Brian Mushimba to set a date for the ceremony.
Mr Kavindele said on Tuesday that the project is expected to run for 36 months and will create about 8,000 jobs during construction.
“We have completed the construction of demo unit in Chingola for the ground-breaking ceremony by President Lungu. Now that Minister of Transport and Communication has been appointed, we expect that the ceremony can take place soon,” Mr Kavindele said.
He said the company and its partners are ready to start the construction of the project and their hope is that Government will expedite the signing of the concession agreement documents.
“As far as we the developers are concerned, we have done everything to commence construction,” he said.
The railway line is cardinal in resolving the transportation hurdles faced by mining companies in North-Western Province and will involve the construction of about 580 kilometre rail line to link Zambia with Angola.
Phase one of the project will involve construction of the railway line between Kalumbila and Solwezi while phase two will run from Solwezi to Chingola.
North-West Rail Company and Grindrod Limited, a Mauritius firm, have partnered to develop the railway line and maintain a new 590 kilometers cape gauge railway from Chingola to the Angolan border.
The benefits of standing with the ruling party in Africa…The demo units have been there since time in memorial.Those of you familiar with the solwezi-chingola road would have seen them along the road.
Really laughable how many times will this man announce the commencement of north western railway? The next will be sondashi announcing the aids medicine again .
On how many PF rallies did Enock Kavindere speak? I think just 3. That’s a great reward.
50 years a simple rail line m the only reason he had contract is because he is licking lungus tired wrinkly testicles
Always bitter to the core! And this the offical UPeND media, what a pathetic grouping indeed! No wonder you are in and out of jail cells, suits you just right you morons!
Nothing bitter am giving you facts here. This chap endorsed lungu and abracadabra he has contract
NEZ don’t you think you have gone too far…?
Now your bitterness has gotten the better of you…
@NEZ were did you see “tired wrinkly testicles” and whose were they if they were not yours.
You must be a small boy because one can tell from lungus skin that he has wrinkly balls . It is a sign of heavy drinking. He looks like a dry plant. Naturally the ball skin is wrinkly now imagine lungus
@Dodoma kkkkkkkkk
ITS TIME TO SHARE THE SPOILS. THAT IS THE ONLY REASON HE ENDORSED HIS EXCELLENCY. WHAT A SHAME. CRY MY BELOVED COUNTRY
IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO EXPRESS YOUR POINT WITHOUT REALLY INSULTING? IN AS MUCH AS ONE MY NOT RECOGNIZE THE CURRENT HEAD OF STATE BUT THAT’S NOT ONLY REASON TO RESPECT HIM, HE IS AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO MUST BE RESPECTED, HE IS A PARENT, HE HAS RULED THIS COUNTRY, BESIDES, EVERY PERSON DESERVES RESPECT. IT IS NOT SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH IS A PROBLEM, IT IS US. PLEASE LETS GUARD AGAINST HATRED, TRIBALISM, INSULTS & GENERALLY CALLING OTHERS NAMES.
jay jay
your comment is great
Critics and sceptics, that’s what we Zambian are. Its better to try than not doing anything. Life is about dreaming and being proactive to turn your dreams into reality by trying and taking risks. I personally being an engineer love the courage of Mr Kavindele. Go for it big man and ignore the critics and sceptics drunk Zambians.
If my.comment was an insult you wouldn’t be reading it now because Lusaka times has a strict policy against offensive language. Please Zambians do not mistake freedom of expression and speech for offensive language. Grow up
IDIOOOT !!!!
Bawiso
Let those who are jealous perish with it. Jealous is actually a sin. Mr Kavindele I wish you all the best in trying to develop mother Zambia. Whether you are on ECL’s side for the project to work, so be it! Even in USA or Britain, real business people always involve the government of the day for their projects to excel, there is no way they will lobby with the losing party or the party in opposition. GOD will bless you more for the jobs you are about to create.
@Carlos, This time his not crying WOLF, IT’S THE REAL DEAL..
No belief in our own people. I wonder what we really want. We Kavindele was being blocked by previous governments so why not give him a chance to prove he can do it?
Phase one of the project will involve construction of the railway line between Kalumbila and Solwezi while phase two will run from Solwezi to Chingola.
North-West Rail Company and Grindrod Limited, a Mauritius firm, have partnered to develop the railway line and maintain a new 590 kilometers cape gauge railway from Chingola to the Angolan border. i am failing to understand where this railway line is going to or connecting – is to Angola or to Chingola from Kalumbila. please help me.
I like Kavindele he is a mature politician he knows that Zambia is bigger than any individual , if he was a presidential candidate I would have voted for him .
It doesn’t it matter if he spoke at a PF rally to get him this, what matters is what the railway is going to do for this country and especially North-Western province. At least he is investing into something that will benefit so many, because at the end of the day it’s what we all want. Lets put politics aside for once.
The economics of railways in Zambia is very interesting. The main line running from Livingstone to Chililabombwe has been dead over the past 30 years! The Great Uhuru Railways running from Kapirimposhi to Dar es Salaam has been dead over the past 30 years! But the line from Kalumbila to Chingola will be viable!
Great question Mwika. That’s why am a bit sceptical about this project.
The minerals see being transported from Kalumbila that’s why this take first priority. Tamara only takes people
YOU WOULD HAVE DONE THIS WHEN YOU WERE A VICE PRESIDENT.THIS TIME NO CHANCE WHERE IS KB DAVIES AND THAT AREA YOU SOLD TO CHINES.
Please make sure HH and his negative cohorts on this blog do not get near that rail line!
If HH did this, they would saying he stole money. Wake up, this one of the moments you ask how did the government fail to create jobs when they could have built this rail of rail using local Labour, and local materials! . Why give , nit even sell the or tender this project to Kavindele, Why?
Government is borrowing $1.2 billion to fix the crippling economy, but at the same time are giving Kavindele $1.2 billion for his company to build a railway line? SOntapo Indeed