The state of the railway transport sector in Zambia is a dire need of leadership as this sector should be able to deliver the cheapest and the most cost effective means to transport bulk good and passengers over a long distance.
Some experts say if railway transport was used to deliver finished petroleum products, it would help cut the current high price of fuel pump prices even by say K2 per liter as only a pipeline can deliver at a much cheaper cost, compared to the current state were fuel is being imported by road using tanker trucks
From the recent Zambian Business Times – ZBT discussion and engagement with the two railway companies (Zambia Railways and TAZARA), we are getting a sense of lack of direction as non of the two companies seem to have a view of the strategic direction they are taking.
Both ZR and TAZARA seem to be at sea and are unable to confirm if they have medium to long term plans enter the cleaner energy electric train space, let alone share any plans on how they intend to raise the needed funds to upgrade the trains and tracks.
And Tanzania-Zambia Railway TAZARA has disclosed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that it is expecting to resume passenger and cargo services after next month. It’s services have remained suspended and are costing the nation huge sums in terms of lost value of the millions of dollars of investment that had been pumped over the years into the company.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ZBT, TAZARA Head of Public Relations Conrad Simuchile said the services are expected to resume in September this year of 2022. “The plan to resume freight operations will awaken both the Passenger and Cargo Services which were suspended in May 2020, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
When asked by ZBT what is really causing the delay as most transport sectors such as road and air have already resumed services and no longer using COVID as an excuse to remain closed, Simuchile requested for a formal press query which he has yet to respond to by time of going to press.
Cheaper passenger travel services in Zambia through Railways should also be revamped as it enables local businesses to intensify local or intra-country trade. Trade within the country is also a key for local development and currency velocity, which can help spur additional engines for faster economic development.
