Zambia: Railways Need Improvement

The Times of Zambia (Ndola),30 October 2007

Since Zambia's railways were concessioned to Railway System of Zambia (RSZ), not much has happened in terms of improving the infrastructure and operations of the reorganised company.

At the time of the takeover, much was expected and many hoped that management at RSZ would solve the problems that beset the firm before it was concessioned. Among some of the expectation were that the track from Chililabombwe to Livingstone would be rehabilitated to boost operations of both the goods and passenger services.

But from the look of things, not much has been achieved which is why Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Dora Siliya, is re-emphasising the need to recapitalise the whole railway transport system. The management at RSZ has since reduced the workforce and even reduced the number of times the passenger service train runs between the Copperbelt and Lusaka. All this is understandable in that it is meant to reduce overheads and allow management to invest in areas such as infrastructure development. Of course there has been an attempt to do so and management has complained that there is rampant vandalism of tracks and vandals quickly damage whatever is repaired.

It is unfortunate that this has happened because RSZ is losing an opportunity to mint money arising from the boom accasioned by high copper prices. We are sure that if the track had been in tip-top condition, RSZ would have made more money than they are currently doing because the railway still remains the best mode to transport or haul large and heavy cargo such as copper and cobalt.

But all is not lost because this opportunity is still there especially that mining operations in North-Western Province are just about to begin thriving even more. Even if other developers will build the Chingola-North-Western rail line, RSZ still has a role to play and it is not too late for them to scout for finances and rehabilitate their track. An efficient railway system also takes pressure off the road infrastructure. At the moment heavy cargo is exerting so much pressure that the lifespan of roads is drastically reduced. The deputy minister's advice should be taken seriously.

Investing in the railway infrastructure now will enable Zambia to save on the cost of repairing roads damaged by transportation of heavy cargo by road. Failure to do so could negate some of the economic gains emanating from the increased activity in the mining industry.