By Isaac Zulu
Railway Workers Union of Zambia (RWUZ) president Nathan Zulu says Zambia needs a robust rail sub-sector that will position the country as a regional transport and logistics hub.
Zulu has pointed out that the major constraints to economic transformation and job creation continue to be diversification and industrialization, which are constrained by inadequate infrastructure in the transport sector.
He said RWUZ was excited by the sentiments made by the minister of transport and logistics that the government was on the verge of revamping the rail sub sector in Zambia, and Zambia Railways in particular.
Zulu said in line with the Eighth National Development Plan, 2022-2026 Strategy, Zambia needed a robust rail sub sector that would position the country as a regional transport logistics hub.
He said the envisioned investments that have been made public with regard to TAZARA and the Lobito Corridor should therefore, transcend into Zambia Railways equally receiving a good measure of investment.
“The revamping of Zambia Railways that traverses through six provinces is very strategic in the economic transformation of the country that needs a holistic approach in addressing the multi-faceted constraints that face key sectors of the economy. The major constraints to economic transformation and job creation continue to be diversification and industrialization, which are constrained by inadequate infrastructure such as the transport sector,” Zulu said.
He called for the modernisation of the rail sub-sector in Zambia, which he said would positively contribute towards employment creation in the country.
“This will in turn positively and ultimately affect the productivity and competitiveness of the economy. The revamping of Zambia Railways needs to go in tandem with Greenfield Rail Project that aims to open the Livingstone via Kazungula spanning 200 kilometres, Livingstone via Kazungula to Mosetse in Botswana covering 430 kilometres on the North South Corridor, Nseluka Mpulungu covering 192 kilometres, the Chipata via Petauke to Serenje railway stretching 388 kilometres on the Nacala Corridor and lastly the Kafue to Lion’s Den in Zimbabwe covering 210 kilometres on the Beira Corridor which connects to the port of Beira in Mozambique,” Zulu explained.
He implored the government to exercise caution when looking for private investors in a bid to revamp the rail sub-sector, so as to avoid the repeat of Zambia Railways which went down after the 2003 concessioning.
Zulu further it was unfair and inimical for the government to arm twist Zambia Railways to allow Open Access of the rail system and allow private operators to traverse the network before recapitalizing the national asset.
“We further implore the Ministry of Transport and Logistics together with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to fully support the Emmanuel Hachipuka led Zambia Railways Board of Directors in sustaining the operations of the company in the short to medium term as finances are being sought to revamp Zambia Railways in totality,” he said.
Zulu said it was unfair and inimical for the government to arm twist Zambia Railways to allow Open Access of the rail system and allow private operators to traverse the network without first recapitalizing the national asset.
“This is a recipe for unfair competition and is detrimental to Zambia Railways operations in areas of derailment costs and poaching of train crews. We are looking forward to the actualisation of the road to rail policy that will trigger and sustain the rail sub-sector in facilitating increased and cost effective trade as a key driver to economic transformation and job creation. A robust rail sub-sector is key to Zambia’s economic agenda and a vehicle to the Vision 2030,” said Zulu. “We the workers of Zambia Railways are ready to be part of this development and stand ready to implement good policies of the New Dawn government as they resonate with our belief in a functional rail sector that will in turn translate in good conditions of service for our members. We therefore look forward to the revamping of Zambia Railways in the quickest way possible.”
