By NNN-ZANIS
Chipata, Zambia : A Malawian delegation that visited Zambia to check on the progress made on the construction of the Chipata-Mchinji railway line linking the two countries has expressed satisfaction on the work done so far.
Delegation leader Newby Kumwembe said here that what he had seen so far was proof that the works were proceeding smoothly.
Kumwembe, who is principal secretary of Malawi’s Trade and Industry Ministry, noted that Zambia and Malawi were partners in the Chipata-Mchinji railway project and were eager to see that construction was completed by the end of this year.
He was speaking after the delegations from Zambia and Malawi, both of them land-locked nations, inspected works Saturday at the 24-km stretch of the road where the railway line would pass.
The two delegations found the railway project workers offloading concrete railway sleepers from two trucks that had just arrived from Kafue and earth-moving machines clearing the route.
Kumwembe said the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) needed to be developed by having several routes for transporting goods. ‘’We need to develop a market that has a trade route. When the railway line is linked to the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA), it will be easier to export and import northwards,’’ he said.
Kumwembe observed that it would be good to complete the railway line because it would help COMESA countries to facilitate their industrial development.
Zambian delegation leader, Brigadier General Peter Tembo, who is the Ministry of Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary, said the Chipata-Mchinji railway project would connect the SADC region.
‘’All the countries in the region will enjoy using the railway line once it is linked to TAZARA,’’ General Tembo said.
Meanwhile, Malawian High Commissioner to Zambia Chrissie Mughogho reminded SADC members to also consider improving the road network while they improve on railway transport.
Dr. Mughogho observed that roads should have a high standard of maintenance because heavy vehicles would be using them to ferry goods to and from railway stations.
She said since Zambia and Malawi were landlocked, the railway line would be a gateway to all corridors.