Zambia: 'State of Railway System Shameful'

[John Ashworth]

Zambia: 'State of Railway System Shameful'

The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
27 February 2008

Ndola

PRESIDENT Mwanawasa has described the state of the railway system as shameful and directed Transport and Communication Minister, Dora Siliya to investigate why the railway line was in a dilapidated state.

Dr Mwanawasa also said Railway System of Zambia (RSZ) had failed to deliver according to pledges it made at the time of signing the concession agreement.

He said this yesterday when he swore in Ms Siliya, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe and senior private secretary to the President, Florence Chawelwa.

Dr Mwanawasa said the railway network in the country was in a shameful condition and warned that the Government would repossess it and offer it to other interested investors.

He said he was currently studying a report on the railway system and would announce if the concession would be revoked or not after he finished studying the recommendations.

"Ms Siliya I have given you the ministry of Transport and Communication which is very important in the service delivery to the people. Your priority should be to find out why the railway system is in this situation," he said.

He said the railway line from Livingstone to Chingola had become a death trap with the destruction of the line, while wagons were in a bad state.

The President advised the new minister to meet RSZ management and find out why the company had failed to deliver because at the time of concessioning Zambia Railways (ZR) it was thought that the private sector would do better.

allAfrica.com