Principal Secretary Madalo Nyambose Highlights Malawi’s Rail Integration, PPPs and Corridor Development during SARA Ministerial Panel
At the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Ministerial Panel, Madam Madalo Nyambose, Principal Secretary Responsible for Administration in Malawi, highlighted Malawi’s priorities in regional integration, infrastructure rehabilitation, and private sector partnerships to strengthen the country’s railway system. She emphasised Malawi’s strategic approach of being “land-linked” rather than landlocked, with a focus on the Nacala and Beira corridors.
Regional Integration and Corridor Development
Nyambose explained that Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia have a tripartite agreement on the Nacala Corridor, which is helping to standardise operations and coordinate development. Rehabilitation work is underway to connect Zambia at Chipata through the Mchinji border, with the aim of providing a seamless rail service. The tripartite framework includes annual meetings to review progress and advance coordination.
She added that Malawi is also pursuing opportunities through the Beira Corridor, with rehabilitation work already started on the connection to Mozambique’s Sena line through Marka in southern Malawi. Twenty-six kilometres have been rehabilitated to the Nsanje district, and the line has already received and tested goods traffic from Beira.
Nyambose stressed that rail connectivity is vital for Malawi because the country’s reliance on road transport is causing congestion and significant damage to its roads. The National Transport Master Plan is guiding efforts to shift trade to rail, but she emphasised that regional integration remains critical to success.
One-Stop Border Posts and Trade Facilitation
Nyambose noted that one-stop border posts are central to Malawi’s strategy to ease trade flows. She said the system shortens border processes and reduces delays, making it an intentional policy to roll out more of these posts.
The Mchinji–Mwami one-stop border post with Zambia is already operational, and similar arrangements are being pursued with Mozambique and Tanzania. Nyambose highlighted that trade should not face unnecessary constraints at borders, and regional cooperation is essential to ensure efficiency.
Financing and Public-Private Partnerships
Addressing the issue of financing, Nyambose confirmed that Malawi is pursuing open access and public-private partnerships (PPPs). She pointed out that one section of the Nacala Corridor currently in operation was developed through a PPP arrangement, which has proved successful.
She explained that Malawi’s treasury is too limited to meet the large investment requirements of the rail sector alone, making collaboration with the private sector and international financing institutions essential. While financial close is often a lengthy process – with one project taking more than two years to conclude – Malawi’s experience demonstrates that PPP models can work.
Nyambose described this as an invitation to the private sector to partner with the government in railway investment, highlighting that the opportunities are reinforced by statistics on the African Continental Free Trade Area, which indicate a huge potential for revenue generation in rail transport.
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, Nyambose said Malawi aims to report increased trade volumes on the Nacala Corridor extending to Chipata by the next SARA Rail Conference. She also expects to provide updates on progress with the Sena line connection to Beira and the trade flows that will follow.
Another key priority will be securing financing to complete the full connection between the Beira, Limbe and Nacala.
