.ATANGA
By CHUSA SICHONE and PHELILE MWANDILA –
ZAMBIA Railways Limited (ZRL) chief executive officer, Muyenga Atanga has assured that the company is ambitious and determined to prove to stakeholders that the State is not pumping funds into ‘bottomless pit’.
Professor Atanga said during a media briefing in Lusaka on Tuesday that ZRL under his leadership had managed to use the US $120 million, which is part of the US $750 million Eurobond, it received from Government to remain afloat.
Prof Atanga reiterated that ZRL was on a growth path largely driven by Government support, adding that the second prize award for the Best Infrastructure Development and third prize in the Best Export Promotion Exhibit at the just ended Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka demonstrated that ZRL was no longer dying.
Prof Atanga cited some of the strides as the recent launch of the Mulobezi train under very difficult conditions as well as the Kapiri-Nakonde train.
Prof Atanga said to further enhance passenger services, ZRL would be launching another train with modern technology towards the end of September and first week of October, this year.
He urged the citizenry to avoid listening to some sections of society who were talking ill about ZRL but that they should instead relax and watch the railway company as it moved to success.
Prof Atanga said ZRL was under difficult conditions reviving the inter mine project, which requires an investment $50 million for it to work properly, but was using its initiatives to resuscitate it.
Prof Atanga said ZRL had signed a contract with Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to move 560,000 tonnes of cargo and that by September, this year it was determined to start moving 20,000 tonnes.
He disclosed that besides the mines, Government approached ZRL in April this year on whether it was capable to transport 50,000 tonnes of fertiliser coming from Saudi Arabia and assured that ZRL was ready to move the commodity.
ZRL, he said, was also making frantic efforts to drastically reduce on the transit time from one destination to another by 2018.
