From the Lusaka Times:
“Government says it is taking deliberate policy decisions to deal with challenges the country’s railway industry is currently facing.
Communications and transport minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa said government is working towards ensuring adequate investment, fair competition and reduced fuel levies to help promote growth in the railway sector.

“Speaking when he officially opened the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Corridor Multilateral workshop in Lusaka today [1 July], Prof Lungwangwa said government is aware of the challenges the railway sector is facing, both in the country and the region. The minister said there is also need to put in place an institutional framework that will facilitate stakeholder participation in order to create an enabling environment which will further promote growth in the railway transport industry.

“Prof Lungwangwa said the railway industry must be promoted at both national and regional level because of its positive characteristics such as bulk movement of goods at cheaper tariffs, fuel efficiency and environmentally friendly operations. He urged railway operators in the region to collectively engage in performance-improving strategies in view of their available resources to reduce transportation costs and enhance competition on regional products.

“And Prof Lungwangwa has urged SARA to engage non member railway operators in the SADC region to reconsider their position.
He said the position taken by such operators not to be members of the SARA is detrimental to the region as it does not promote railway interests in SADC member states.”

Speaking earlier, Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) chief executive officer Benjamin Even said his company plays “a major anchor role for most of the corridors because of Zambia’s central geographical position in the region.” RSZ he said will continue to play a coordinative role in the movement of both local and international traffic along the corridors it connects.

The Lusaka Times quoted Even saying: “RSZ is grateful to the government of the republic of Zambia for creating a conducive business atmosphere and is looking forward to continued support.” He expressed confidence that its partnership and coordination with government and other stakeholders will help benefit and enhance social economic development in the SADC region.

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Tags | SARA