East African Business Week

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA-The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is  improving in an effort to regain the 1 million tons haulage by the end of 2012 upon completion of capacity building projects.
TAZARA, whose current annual haulage capacity is about 600, 000 tons, half of its peak of 1.27 million tons it record ed in the late 1970?s, is now making  progress after receiving financial assistance of $50 m from China.
The Tazara managing director, Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika said, "There is an urgent need for massive additional investments to enhance the haulage capacity to a level of five million tons annually in long-term plan… with current capacity building projects due to be completed by next year, we expect TAZARA to regain operational capacity to transport one million tons per annum, once again."
The 1860km railway line was built by China running from Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia at cost of $500 million. It performed well in the early days but politics and mismanagement and poor maintenance of the mainline caused a drop in haulage.
The Minister for Transport, Omari Nundu at the occasion said, "The challenges that Tazara faces are operational, management and financial… but these are not insurmountable and are being addressed by the three Governments of Tanzania, Zambia and China which have signed the 14th Protocol to improve the infrastructure and the rolling stock of the railway through the assistance offered by China. The implementation of this protocol has already started with the delivery of 90 new wagons."
The Minister said the railway line has in the last 35 years transported over 50 million passengers, hauled 28 million tons of freight and 100 million parcels serving not only Tanzania and Zambia, but also the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and South Africa.