Chipata-mchinji Rail Line Operations May Take Time

Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EPCCI) chairperson Timothy Nyirenda said it might take time to make the Chipata/Mchinji railway line operational.

In an interview after witnessing the arrival of the first train carrying ballast which used the Chipata/Mchinji railway line on Thursday, Nyirenda said there were a lot of things that needed to be done on the railway line.

“There is still a lot to be done on this railway line, there are some places which still needs ballast so there will be a train coming from Malawi that will be bringing this until the railway line is fully completed.

At the moment there is no dry port so government should find a place for this again we don't know a company that will be running this railway line. We don't know whether there is a line for this railway project in next yearís budget otherwise it might be operational in the next years to come,î Nyirenda said.

He said the government should also make a road that would lead to the dry port.
Nyirenda urged the business community in the province to take advantage of the railway line that was expected to start operating in the next three months.

He said he was hopeful that the government would find funds meant for the completion of the project.
Nyirenda said he was grateful to the Malawian and Mozambican governments for working closely with the Zambian government in ensuring that the project was successful.


Source: postzambia.com