Finance Minister Bwalya N’gandu says he will engage Management at Tanzania Zambia Railways -Tazara to revive all railway stations which it has abandoned.
Dr. Ng’andu who recently inspected the Kasongo Tazara Railway Station in Kanchibiya district in Muchinga province with Muchinga Province Minister Malozo Sichone was disappointed to find that the facility has been abandoned.
He says government spent substantial amounts of money to put up railway station, stating that abandoning such infrastructure is not the way to go.
Dr. Ng’andu says one of the objectives of TAZARA is to open areas where it traverses to allow farmers transport their Agriculture produce using railway transport.
He says using railway transport to move agriculture produces and other goods can easy pressure on the roads.
Dr. N’gandu noted that Muchinga and Northern province produces a lot of agriculture produce which can utilise railway in transporting them to other markets outside the province.
And Mr. Sichone informed Dr. N’gandu that several railway stations from Kapiri to Nakonde are dilapidated.
Mr. Sichone says this has denied people, especially farmers in the province to utilise railway transport in transporting their agriculture produce via rail.
He noted that the state of Kasongo Railway station is a clear negligence on the part of TAZARA management as it has failed to improve its infrastructure for many years.
Ain’t you supposed to be in your office figuring out what to do the current economic situation. Let the Minister of Environment handle that.
God help us..
PF must really Go.
You know this is quite laughable and embarrassing. In your own words you said “the government spent substantial amounts of money” Go on? The question is who did the government give that contract to?
And who is the Contracting Officer, who is supposed to confirm the delivery or the completion of the contract before the final payments are paid. You guys Don’t know what you are doing and you will be held accountable…
Tazara is a corporation and owns the assets the minister of finance is talking about. Has he asked why Tazara has abandoned those assets? No minister leave that to Tazara.
This is indeed true and needed. Let us revive our rail and increase income that way. What is point in wasting this infrastructure? The problem with diasporans commenting above is that they are evil devils who cannot stand seeing Zambia doing as good or better than their adopted homes there abroad. To hell you are not Zambians and cannot tell us how to deal with this. Mwanyala
There is need to reopen all train stations. It is unacceptable to close train stations when travelers are yearning for a a good ride. The passengers must be encouraged to ride in the comfort of their preferred coach. First class, second class or third class. For families, first class or second class can be convenient as long as the fare is affordable. When the Chinese were running the railway line, it was very clean and efficient. The announcers on the microphone were very professional. The passengers stood up in readiness for departure. Perhaps the Chinese could again work in partnership with their local counterparts. The huge investment must not go to waste. It is intended to transport goods and passengers at affordable fares compared to buses and lorries.
Fix economy please, send another minister those ends, surprise us with important news we want to hear like the kwacha has stabilized and now k15 to the dollar, the higest note in the country can be used to buy 25KG not this nonsense of failed projects 2021 is upon you.
Fix economy please, send another minister those ends, surprise us with important news we want to hear like the kwacha has stabilized and now k15 to the dollar, the higest note in the country can be used to buy 25KG not this nonsense of failed projects 2021 is upon you.
When Tazara was commissioned in 1976, prospects for development in the corridor were quite high. People even moved from distant villages to settle within the Tazara corridor as that made it easier for them to transport their goods to Kasama or Kapiri for sell. In supporting the call, I also urge the 2 Ministers to ensure that agro extension services are revived to help people produce.
Bembas always want to waste government money on projects in the Northern caucases that have absolutely zero economic value. Of what benefit will reopening these highly uneconomical stations be to the nation except for the Bembas to loot their Mukula Trees and create a desert in MwineluBembaland?
Bembas always want to waste government money on projects in the Northern caucases that have absolutely zero economic value. Of what benefit will reopening these highly uneconomical stations be to the nation except for the Bembas to loot their Mukula Trees and create a desert in MwineluBembaland?/
If a train is passing there then a station is needed. Has the train stopped moving?
Tazara has not been privatized and it’s not doing well. So wht works, government ownership or private ownership? We hv been told privatisation is evil. Well the Times of Zambia not doing well and it’s state-owned. Something is not making sense here.
When financial resources become available the Zambian Government should, as a matter of priority, harness international funds to realise the construction of a railway line to be linked to the Nacala Corridor via Chipata, Katete, Petauke and join the Tazara system in Serenje. This rail network, also planned to link Kasama, Mbala and Mpulungu, is a promising alternate route by Zambia to forge trade links with Congo DR, Burundi and Rwanda.