By JUDITH NAMUTOWE
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THE Africa Development Bank (AfDB) will spend a total of US$100 million to connect Mpulungu Port through Nseluka area to Tanzania Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) railway line.
AfDB country representative Freddie Kwesiga said in an interview recently that the bank wanted to join Mpulungu Port to TAZARA through Nseluka area with the view of opening up trade between Southern and East Africa.
East African countries, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania had the largest population with limited agricultural land, while Zambia on the other hand, had huge land and water resources and producing food for the people in the region.
Dr Kwesiga said it was important as it would enable Zambia to tap into the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) markets.
He said to this effect, the bank and Zambia Railways Limited would undertake a feasibility study with regard to connecting Mpulungu Port to TAZARA.
“Currently, a feasibility study on the expansion of port facilities at Mpulungu Harbour in Zambia and Bujumbura in Burundi is ongoing and it is expected to be completed by mid next year,” Dr Kwesiga said.
Dr Kwesiga said the bank would also look at the Lake Tanganyika corridor which would involve Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Kalemi Port and Kigoma on the side of Tanzania.
He explained that there would be four ports which include Mpulungu, Kalemi , Bujumbura and Kigoma.
“And then we will improve the marine safety on the lake, do designs to deepen harbours and increase capacity because trade among these countries ‘Zambia and Tanzania among others is moving a lot on the lake, especially sugar and cement which are key components on the lake to Eastern Congo.
“What is important is that, these ports alone are inland and If not connected with the sea port, viability will be reduced,” he said.
“So when we start phase two for connecting Kalemi Port and Lake Tanganyika, We will also work on the Tanzanian Central Corridor, the railway and the road up to the Port of Dar es Salaam,” he said.
