Zambia says it is in the process of revising rules and regulations governing operations of the railway sector in the country to provide for multi-player participation.
Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Misheck Lungu says the revised Act will provide for the separation of railway operations from the maintenance of rail infrastructure.
He was speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa when he transited from Namibia where he was leading government officials on a benchmark of TransNamib Railway in the area of vertical separation of operations.
Mr. Lungu noted that currently, railway line operations in Zambia were being operated and maintained by one operator who was Zambia Railways Limited.
He said the separation of operations will promote open access on the railway to allow for both public and private sector participation.
Mr. Lungu mentioned that the government was confident that the revision of the Railway Act of 1994 will promote open access to the railway, therefore, leading to its high utilization and reduced deterioration of road infrastructure.
He said revising current laws governing the railway sector was in line with the country’s revised National Transport Policy of May 2019
Meanwhile, Mr. Lungu says the government was concerned with the low levels of business at its Dry Port at Walvis bay.
He said the Concessionaire has been engaged to involve the Zambian business community to maximize benefits to Zambian people.
Mr. Lungu mentioned that the government has since put in place a committee to provide oversight on the concession as well as spearhead future investments for the infrastructure
You want to go the UK route where the company Network rail own and maintain the infrastructure while train operations and running is by private companies ??
That plan needs a very modern functioning rail network. Also rail prices for passenger and freight will be unaffordable, being left to the mercy of train operating companies, even without considering the dilapidated infrastructure ZR has.
It’s sad and not nice to always say , “we told you so.”
$1 billion of that debt Zambia has incurred should have been used to modernise the rail network.
Bring in the Chinese…They have the expertise
I am not interested in all this stuff. I just want to know the person Spax killed and why for the first time in the history of this country, this so called murder case is being handled differently from all known murder cases. I also need to know the type of syringes that were with the team that was killed in Gwembe. I also need an update on the 48 houses. I also need to know why the government is mute on mukula logs impounded in Malaysia. Why do we zambians have this ‘I do not care’ attitude? It is not only irritating but frustrating too to continue being associated with such reckless souls. Pls journalists and Prime Tv help with investigations. I demand answers from those that wear suits like real leaders when they are just a Group of bandits and economic rapists.
This is a good measure. Just to break the ice, I know all of you are hearing the rumours that some crazy woman called Chrisha frost mentioned my name. I would categorically like to state that I don’t know her. Many people know me and take the joy in shouting my name. Chances are she has see me in kafue with my crazy friends and now wants to claim she knows me. Fake news. Kz
You have lamentably failed to run ZRL after pouring in $120m which you shouldn’t have wasted, now you are thinking of taking business from them Chriwa told you what to do but because of greed you didnt see a bigger picture. You have to think from first principles; why is the Dry port in Walvis Bay not doing well have you thought it might be customs duty charges by the Namibian govt. How can you be making unilateral decisions without consulting technocrats and professionals? You signing some other contract in Mozambique…we have that SA company years ago running the SA line now you are repeating the same mistake. You know for a fact that haulage firms like greedy political heavyweights GBM will not sit by and watch ZRL prosper taking business from them.
Do you even know what the word…
benchmarking means? You are simply wasting taxpayers money flying about…what are you doing in RSA? when you could just gone to Livingstone.
Chen Ng Qui – You have already given the Chinks that ZRL line in southern Province for a sum of loanyou will never pay back …why do you think this mo ron is jumping about? The Chinks are now after the connection from Walvis Bay but Namibians are not as shortsighted as this Edgar Lungu and his namesake here.
Tarino you seem to be a sad doomsday type of person. This is a personal question, but are you in relationship? I ask because I would be shocked if you had life outside of this website. You appear to be very negative such that no person would want to spend 1minute in your company. You have a very sad and negative vibe. What happened to you to make you like this?
Chen Ng Qui – You have already given the Chi nks that ZRL line in southern Province for a sum of loan you will never pay back …why do you think this mor on is jumping about? The Chinks are now after the connection from Walvis Bay but Namibians are not as shortsighted as this Ed gar Lungu and his namesake here.
At least I dont waste my time impersonating KZ and de-campaigning PF online to get attention as I have a life and when you are bored with that you will go back to being N£7 the coon trolling for attention about his musungu wife. When you are bored with that you are hacking through LT servers…you are the reason this website has deteriorated.
Even a simple railway system u cant revamp it, this is 21st century guys let’s be serious. This was supposed to be done 40 years ago. Zambia wake up. The economy will only revive when you work on mishaps. Do business by revamping they railway system, airline, road system , water system. Wake up mother zambia
“Meanwhile, Mr. Lungu says the government was concerned with the low levels of business at its Dry Port at Walvis bay. ”
PS, have you thought about the full picture? From Walvis Bay you should have driven the whole route through northern Namibia to Katima mulilo, then to Livingstone and then to Lusaka and Copperbelt, and then given us the full picture not this half baked report. Lazy like the rest!!
Tarino you seem to be dodging the question. I don’t even know what an n3s is? You seem to think I am fake and you are genuinely entitled to think that way. However that is not the question I asked you. You seem to be in denial and as a public leader I am very concerned about your mental health. Contact me. My email address is on my profile here. Kz
I have no time to respond to someone who lacks creativity online just knows how clone and copy other people’s names and tarnish …useless coon, you don’t even feel ashamed when you are typing your rubbish.
Zambia needs savvy leaders, as people have mentioned above, you can not be talking about concessionaire or concessions deals without putting nothing yourselves in ZRL, what are you bring on the table? You have signed big loan deals with Chinks giving away ZRL as you wont pay back. It is clear Namibia will benefit from this deal. There is nothing this Lungu is talking about here that is progressive just giving away ZRL…he is not even ashamed at the state of the locamotive and tracks in Namibia funded by themselves with proper locomotive units not Chinese junk copies.
Zambia will only develop when Zambia’s participate in their own companies . yes this will develop rail infrastructure but lessen Zambia railway’s profit’s .
Spaka is that you?