Tazara seals deal with two other firms to enhance rail operations

By The guardian reporter

Tanzania Zambia Railways (TAZARA)

Three railway companies in southern Africa have sealed an agreement aimed at improving their operations to meet customer needs, the Times of Zambia reported on Monday.

The Zambia Railways Limited, Societe Nationale De Fer Du Congo Sarl of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania Zambia Railways, jointly owned by the Zambian and Tanzanian governments, have signed a tripartite agreement after holding a consultative meeting to iron out the challenges and the way forward.

In a communique released after the meeting, the three railway firms agreed to harmonise relationships and operations.

Acknowledging that progress had been made to overcome some of the challenges faced by the railway sector, the railway firms committed themselves to specific strategies an action plan that would tackle the challenges.

While more than 60, 000 tons of freight are immediately available for haulage through the Dar-es-Salaam Corridor per month, the three railways are only able to transport an average of 44 percent of the cargo every month, the statement said.

The ultimate objective of the agreement was to smoothen inter-railway operations and enhance railway performance by serving customers in the Dar es Salaam Corridor efficiently and more effectively, the statement added.  

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN