Railway Systems of Zambia Chief Executive officer Benjamin Evan has dismissed assertions that it is responsible for the vandalised railway line between Ndola and Luanshya.
Mr Evan said that contrary to the public perception that RSZ is in charge of the line which used to connect Ndola and Luanshya, the railway firm has nothing to do with it.
He said the correct position is that the Luanshya branch line is not part of the RSZ-Zambia Railways Limited concession and therefore, legally belongs to the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
This is contained in a statement received by ZANIS and signed by the company’s Deputy General Manager Charles Phiri.
Mr Even who was reacting to media reports that RSZ had neglected the line between Ndola and Luanshya, said it was unfortunate that journalists did not counter-check facts to back their reports as evidenced by various reports regarding the establishment in question.
He said he believed that the public perception about the ownership of the line between Ndola and Luanshya was being encouraged by misleading media reports and called on journalists to publish correct information.
He regretted the trend of linking anything to do with railways in Zambia to RSZ when in actual fact there are other railway companies line Zambia Railways, TAZARA and Mulobezi who have their share of the railways in respective areas.
“It appears anything about railways in Zambia is RSZ. We would like to appeal to journalists and other people who may need to know further anything to do with the RSZ to contact us and we shall be most willing to provide the information,” Mr Even said.
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“Mr Even who was reacting to media reports that RSZ had neglected the line between Ndola and Luanshya, said it was unfortunate that journalists did not counter-check facts to back their reports as evidenced by various reports…”.Preach brother. Zed journalists are lazy. They wait for the news to come to them rather than be proactive. All they do is drink beer and sit on their behinds until they get a phone call from a politician. Just look at all the news on LT. Its always Shikapwasha says, Sata says, RB says, HH says, Siulapwa says, Teta says, give us a break please.
Its unbelievable that such a thing could have happened in a country like Zambia claiming to be GRZ of laws to let pipo vandalise the railway line. Does it mean senior GRZ officials were involved. This whole thing was vandalised as if there was civil wall yet the Copperbelt has the largest no. of police officers. Its not too late to bring the culprits to book. All those who were involved are known its not a secret I hear some are even serving in parliament. Pipo of Luanshya and all Zambians lets expose those who were behind this sabotage of national asset.
It is unfortunate the way public infrastructure is vandalized in Zambia. I just don’t know when and how a sense of responsibility and ownership will be attained. A drive through Kitwe town is a nightmare – one does not know when the traffic lights are red, ember or green because they all have been broken.
By the way the Luanshya rail line was vandalized by scrap metal dealers who were by the way let without check by the government.