By Isaac Zulu
The UPND administration should actualise pronouncements regarding the revamping and recapitalization of TAZARA, says Jacob Lombe.
Speaking in an interview, Lombe who is Workers Union of TAZARA (WUTAZ) general secretary, has said that there have been many pronouncements and commitments that were made in the past, but have not been actualised.
“We have had such pronouncements and commitments made in the past, but those commitments have not been actualised,” said Lombe. “Our prayer is that the recent commitments that President Hakainde Hichilema and his counterpart in Tanzania recently made will be actualised. The UPND government should actualise pronouncements regarding the revamping and recapitalization of TAZARA.”
He stressed that TAZARA has the capacity to haul cargo in large quantities, but has inadequate and reliable locomotives to transport the said goods.
He said that TAZARA should take advantage of the newly rehabilitated port of Dar-es-salaam and start hauling the increased volume of cargo in order to increase its revenue base.
“So we should tap into that and start hauling cargo in large quantities and generate enough revenue for the rail company’s operations on the Zambian side,” said Lombe.
He proposed that money earmarked for the revamping of TAZARA should be channeled towards the procurement of locomotives and the maintenance of rail track.
