SILUMESI MALUMO writes@SunZambian
THE construction of dry port will commence soon in order for the Muchinji Railway Line to be fully operational, Zambia Railway Limited (ZRL) has said.
ZRL Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Musonda, said that his firm last month advertised for the interested contractors to submit the proposals.He said in an interview yesterday that the contractors submitted their proposals and the successful bidder would be awarded the contract.“You remember the study was done some time back for the construction of that facility. If you recall the study was done six to seven years ago.“So we are hoping that the project moves quickly then we should be able to start seeing even copper being trans-shipped to Chipata from Copperbelt because Nacala provides the deepest sea port in Africa,” Mr Musonda said.Mr Musonda said the railway would interface with the road so that the road would bring traffic to Chipata to be put on the rail.Meanwhile the Chief Executive Officer said the railway line was not viable in past few years because some bridges in Malawi which connected to the railway line were washed away.
“Because of the wash ways we saw very little movement only a bit of fertilisers which came into the Eastern Province from Mozambique,” he said.
