The Ministry of Transport and Communications has proposed the construction of the Kafue-lion’s den railway line, to run from the Neganega area to the lion’s den in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Team engineering company lead consultant Brian Nkandu disclosed this during the stakeholder’s consultation scoping meeting for the environmental social impact assessment of the Kafue to Chirundu railway link project in Chirundu district.

Mr Nkandu explained that the railway line will be 304km long from Zambia to Zimbabwe with Zambia covering 95 kilometres from Kafue to Chirundu.

“The Kafue-Chirundu railway line lies in Lusaka and Southern provinces, traversing over four districts namely Kafue, Mazabuka, Chikankata and Chirundu districts before crossing into neighbouring Zimbabwe,” he added.

He said the railway line is a single gauge of 1600 millimetres, adding that the single gauge dimension was selected because it fits both Zambia and Zimbabwe’s existing railway designs.

He said the railway line will pass through small scale farming areas cutting the Mazabuka road near the turnpike, running south along the tarred Kafue Chirundu main road through Kabanana and into Chirundu border town.

“The railway line will cross the Zambezi River into Zimbabwe terminating at lion’s den town where it will be linked to railways systems of Zimbabwe to port of Beira in Mozambique,” he said.

And Ministry of Transport and Communications Inspector of railways Jordan Zimba said Chirundu should embrace the construction of the railway line, adding that it promises a viable and increased outcome.

“There is no railway project in Zambia that can be compared to the Kafue-lion’s den railway,” he added.

He further explained that the railway line will attract investment, noting that investors will be guaranteed an increased turnover as this will be the shortest.

“This should motivate you to support the construction of the Kafue Chirundu railway line as it comes with huge benefits.

Mr Zimba explained that the railway construction has immense economic benefits, among them employment creation through contracts or temporal jobs during the preparatory and construction phases.

He further disclosed that permanent jobs will be created in the operational and maintenance phases, adding that there will be an improved local economy through increased income generation through wages and salaries of employees which will trickle down to the locals.

“We will have increase in revenue for both central and local government arising from taxes and other levies to be paid by the contractor, “he said

Meanwhile Chirundu District Commissioner Stafford Kayame implored all stakeholders to be supportive of governments’ railway infrastructure development through the Ministry of Transport and communications.

“I call upon everyone to be attentive and active during this consultative meeting,” Mr Kayame implored.

“Let us take advantage of the honour we have been given to make meaningful contributions towards the success of the project” he said.

President Edgar Lungu says government is committed to ensuring that everyone is given equal value and opportunities in all areas of socio-economic development.

President Lungu said the private sector is a catalyst to support government’s quest to improve the lives of people through wealth and employment creation in line with the country’s vision 2030.

ZANIS reports that the Head of State said this today during the official opening of the first ever business expo dubbed, “Lusaka business expo 2021’ being held under the theme: “Awaken the future.”

President Lungu said the Lusaka Business Expo provides vast opportunities for potential investors to take advantage of the enormous prospective that the push women network has to offer in all sectors of the economy.

He stated that the push women network is demonstrating its agility in driving the conversation on inclusivity in a way that is timely, feasible and able to create impact.

“If we are to steer ourselves into the new frontier of doing business, we must employ an inclusive approach where each one of us, is able to be actively engaged and involved in determining the future of business,” he said.

The Head of State added that the Lusaka Business Expo will serve as a vital marketing tool as it will enable sellers to test new products in the market, gather insights about consumers and competitors and get unmatched access to buyers.

He noted that it is time to redefine the future of women driven programmes to ensure that no one is left behind in national development.

President Lungu further said government through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry has demonstrated its commitment to accelerating economic development by supporting events aimed at supporting female led enterprises.

“There is no doubt that women are the backbone of families, communities and the nation at large,” he said.

The President has since considered support to female led businesses as cardinal building blocks to national development.

He reiterated government’s unequalled commitment to ensuring an enabling environment for businesses to survive and thrive.

With just 100 days to go until Election Day, there is a silent revolution going on in Zambia, says UPND’s aspiring candidate for Mapatizya constituency, Choolwe Chibomba.

“The people of Zambia are tired of the current administration,” he says. “Unlike 2011, where people actively made noise about changing government, the wind of change this time around is very quiet.”

Chibomba describes the “wind of change” this time around as a “silent revolution,” where people are patiently waiting to cast their vote on August 12th. “The ballot will speak for the people on Election Day, and the vote must be protected.” According to the aspirant, the people need to come together and ensure that their will is respected. “We have to come together, from all corners of the country, to ensure that our votes are protected.”

He also noted that for many young people, this will be their first time voting, as they are coming of age and are seeing their futures being stifled at the hands of a government that only serves itself. “The youth vote is particularly important,” he notes. “As the future of this nation, we must make sure that we are not bought off by short-term benefits and focus on what really matters.”

“That is what makes this revolution silent,” he went on to say. “While people are watching politicians defect, hand out money, and short-term development projects, they still know within themselves what the right thing to do will be on August 12.”

Chibomba says the Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND are the “only options” if we want to restore order, peace and integrity in the country. He said that the current government has had their chance to prove themselves, and that it is time for us as a nation to take a new direction.

“The recent violence at the PF secretariat also highlights how incapable the current government is to run the country, and the standard that our country has been reduced to,” Chibomba says. “Zambia has had a reputation since Independence as a peaceful nation, but over the last decade, we have descended into the most violent regime in our history. Recklessness and lawlessness have become the order of the day, and this is not what our country was built upon.”

“August 12th is the chance Zambia has to redeem ourselves, but it is up to all of us to play our part and make the right decision. With just 100 days to go, we must make sure that we don’t lose focus,” he said in closing.