.PANJI KAUNDA

By XAVIER MANCHISHI –

THE Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) made a loss of over K15 million in the first quarter of this year, Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Deputy Minister, Panji Kaunda has said.
Meanwhile, Government has said the reported split of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) between Zambia and Tanzania is due to a misunderstanding.
Col Kaunda told Parliament that the ZRL incurred a loss of K15, 865, 474 between January and April, this year.
The Deputy Minister was responding to a question by PF Chipili MP, Davies Mwila, who wanted to know what the financial status of ZRL was as of April, 2014, how much profit the company made in 2013 and what its future plans in terms of recapitalisation.
Col Kaunda, however, said the firm generated a total revenue of K231,516,000 and a net income of K41,186,000 last year and that the firm hauled a total of 732, 284 tonnes of freight cargo in 2013.
The deputy minister said ZRL was also on course with the rehabilitation of its stock and railway infrastructure following the US $120 million grant from Government.
He added that 640 defective wagons and 13 defective locomotives had been earmarked for full rehabilitation next year, while 500 more wagons and additional ten locomotives had been procured in a move aimed at linking all mines in transporting concentrates, refineries and smelters.
“Unlike our colleagues in the MMD who had the formula one road project, we have our programmes outlined. We won’t force the mines to use them, we will just ensure we provide good service which will compel the mines to use Zambia Railways,” he said.
He added that the rail track from Livingstone to Chililabombwe was under rehabilitation by re-sleepering the sections with concrete sleepers, converting the track into a long welded rail, replacing wooden and expired steel sleepers with concrete sleepers as well as ballasting.
He disclosed that ZRL took over the operations of Mulobezi Railway line on January 1, 2014.
On the TAZARA issue, Vice- President Guy Scott said there was just a misunderstanding but that the two Governments would continue discussing, to avoid the split.
“I have also read the same media report that the questioner is referring to. The issue of TAZARA is a complex one. There are so many issues to sort out with the millions of investments, the jobs andother agreements,” he said.