SHOULD THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT INVEST IN RAILWAYS?

Zambia is a landlocked country bordering with Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Most of these countries trade with the eastern and western world through transiting much of their cargo through Zambia as a transit nation.

SHOULD THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT INVEST IN RAILWAYS?

Well noted that there has been very little discussion on the Railway Sector and how to expand or improve on the existing infrastructure and services.

Road construction is on-going and road is the most commonly used mode of transport but is ultimately more costly than Rail, particularly for transportation of bulky materials.

Zambia needs to shift its cargo load from Roads to Rail if it is to deal with excessive Road Cargo movements arising out of the expansion of the Mining and Agriculture Sectors.

SHOULD THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT INVEST IN RAILWAYS?

With copper production set to reach the 1 million tonne mark by 2013, this translate to between 3-5 million tones of concentrate moving between the Copperbelt mining and metallurgical processing plants located in Luanshya, Chambishi, Konkola, Chingola, Kitwe and Mufulira.

Currently, RSZ and TAZARA are the two main railway systems Zambia has. A proportion of cargo along North-South Corridor is transported along the RSZ line, while Tazara transports a portion of cargo distined for the port of Dar-es-alaam in Tanzania.

SHOULD THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT INVEST IN RAILWAYS?

SHOULD THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT INVEST IN RAILWAYS?

Chingola-Sol-JimbeNseluka-Mpulungu sprail Chipata-TZR MpikaKafue-Lions DenLivingstone-Katima M

RSZTAZARA

TAZARA

Solwezi- Katima Mulilo

SHOULD THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT INVEST IN RAILWAYS?PROPOSED RAILWAY LINE PROJECTS

TAZARA- Petauke- Chipata (-Malawi-Nacala)Would connect to the deepest port of Africa, port of Nacala in Mozambique

and be part of the Nacala Railway corridor. Relatively short construction with potential to link Zambia/ Angola / DRC to Nacala port( or possibly Beira)

Nseluka- Mpulungu railway line • The railway line will be part of the north-south and Nacala railway

development corridor. Will provide access for bulky cargo exports from southern Africa to the preferential trade area of the great lakes region.

Kafue to lion’s den in Zimbabwe • Would put Beira as the closest port by rail from the Copperbelt by more

than 400km. the rail link will reduce import and export costs for the DRC and Zambia by 20%.

Likasi(DRC) – SOLWEZI- Kasama- Kaoma- Katima Mulilo • The project is a Greenfield, being undertaken by EPINSAN of South Africa.

The project will have advantage of bulky Agriculture and Mineral exports and imports through the port of Welvis- Bay.

SHOULD THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT INVEST IN RAILWAYS?• Conclusion There is a big need for GRZ and all partners in

the transport sector to commit resources to reviving the existing railway networks and embark on development of green field lines.

comprehensive and holistic approach to development of Transport Infrastructure in Zambia. To achieve these the government has embarked on the following:

o Revise the 2002 National Transport Policy

SHOULD THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT INVEST IN RAILWAYS?

o Develop the National Transport Infrastructure Master Plan

oMajor Policy shift to re-align our focus in the transport sector

o Need to toll roads so as to mobilise more roads for rehabilitation and maintainer of roads

o Need to establish a Railway Fund o Need to reform the current institutional frame

work so as to be in line with the holistic approach