Zambia Railways Limited chairperson, Emmanuel Hachipuka, is confident that a public-private partnership (PPP) can be established within a year as part of the Chipata-Mchinji project. The PPP will also include the construction of a dry port, which will serve as a hub for rail and road cargo, Hachipuka added.
The Chipata-Mchinji network connects Zambia to Malawi and Mozambique. Hachipuka stated that the PPP will involve extending the rail line to Serenje in central Zambia to link with the Tazara Railway, which connects Zambia and Tanzania.
Hachipuka, who previously served as Managing Director of Zambia Railways, said that during his tenure as MD, the Chipata-Mchinji project was one of his top priorities.
Since his appointment as board chairperson in September last year, Hachipuka has already visited the project site in Chipata, in eastern Zambia, to assess the project’s status.
Following this visit, Hachipuka said the directors agreed to implement several changes to the project’s management.
He noted that Zambia Railways intends to commence operations once the rehabilitation on the Malawian side is completed, which is already at an advanced stage, Hachipuka said.
Hachipuka also mentioned that several meetings were held with reputable potential partners on the Chipata-Mchinji project during the recent Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Conference and Exhibition held in South Africa. These discussions were led by the Zambian Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali.
In October 2023, the presidents of Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique attended the inauguration of the upgraded and expanded Port of Nacala and signed the Nacala Corridor Development Agreements during a ceremony held in Mozambique.
At that time, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema called for collaboration in developing the missing railway links along the Nacala corridor to provide a comprehensive suite of transport options, further enhancing regional connectivity.
The Nacala Corridor spans 1,150 kilometres from Chipata to the Port of Nacala, with the Zambian portion covering a crucial 24-kilometre stretch from Chipata to Mchinji. The resumption of operations on this corridor is vital for Zambia’s trade dynamics, providing a strategic gateway for exports and imports through the Port of Nacala.
Written for Railways Africa Magazine by Chamwe Kaira
