•The rehabilitation of the Mpulungu ports would improve transport services and communications on Lake Tanganyika

By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –

INFARSTRUCTURE development is a cardinal undertaking that helps spur growth of an economy and avails the citizen’s efficient service delivery particularly in the social sector.
Even at 50 years, the task for Zambia has continued with emphasis being placed on infrastructure development at Lake Tanganyika and Mpulungu harbour.
The rehabilitation of the Mpulungu ports would improve transport services and communications on Lake Tanganyika- between Zambia and the Great Lakes Region.
The project will provide a fuel efficient transport mode along the regional corridors, since research shows that waterways transport is the most fuel efficient of all transport modes.
The country’s main export product copper, is being transported both by road and railway to Dar es Salaam from the Copperbelt Province.
It is believed that the waterways takes place mainly on Lake Tanganyika which is shared by four countries namely, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia, using the port of Mpulungu.
The Zambian government has additional plans of linking Mpulungu to the TAZARA network.
Currently Zambia exports sugar, cement, steel and other commodities through the Mpulungu Port on Lake Tanganyika into the Great Lakes region.
Zambia has the potential of developing the foreign trade of mineral resources, agricultural products and processed commodities.
It is in this spirit that the Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB) is undertaking the development of Lake Tanganyika.
The Bank approved a US $22.49 million loan to Zambia for the development of Lake Tanganyika.
The total estimated cost of the project is US $29.62 million.
In addition to AfDB, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is making a contribution of US $7 million and the Zambian government is committing US $190,000.
The project will be implemented over a five-year period in two districts, Mpulungu and Nsama, which surround the drainage basin of the lake which has 157,830 inhabitants where the incidence of poverty is much higher in these districts than in other districts of Zambia.
Accordingly, it aims to stimulate job creation and rural development, hence boosting inclusive growth.
AfDB officer-in-charge for Zambia Philip Boahen said the project will support a safe and secure environment for sustainable economic growth and development in the Lake Tanganyika catchment area of Zambia especially for fish products for the growing domestic and regional export markets which hitherto is severely constrained by biological bottlenecks.
“Regulatory constraints and inefficiencies throughout the value-chain to the extent that there are severe losses experienced in the management of the catches due to lack of appropriate value-chain infrastructures,” he said.
This intervention will help increase the supply-side of fish-catch through the introduction of good governance in fisheries management as well as all natural resources in the lake basin.
Moreover, the project is expected to provide technical skills in conservation and other farming practices that promote environmental management thus increasing agriculture productivity in the proposed project area.
It will also assist in the formulation and implementation of measures that reduce deforestation and promote commercial wood lots and agro-forestry.
More specifically, the project will promote sustainable and equitable management and use of the surrounding natural resources.
Mr Boahen noted that the project will help improve the livelihoods of local communities by encouraging the development of economic infrastructure and human resources and by strengthening market linkages as well as the development of value-chains for the products of natural resources.
The project should is envisaged to improve fish supply by 20 to 25 per cent.
In addition, it will help members of the local population adopt sustainable practices and technologies for the management of land, forests and water, with the goal of limiting land degradation and deforestation, and boosting agricultural production.
Furthermore, the project should have a positive, virtuous impact on the conservation and preservation of the area’s wildlife and heritage and on specific resources – particularly the national park – which can play a role in local economic development.
“Unleashing the full potential of the lake’s resources will increase the incomes of rural households. Project implementation will be participative, so that local people take ownership of it and ensure its sustainability,” Mr Boahen explained.
In addition to this operation, the AfDB has provided grant resources of USS 2.64 million for feasibility studies and engineering designs that will help with the rehabilitation of the Mpulungu Port.
The Bank is also assisting the Government of Burundi with a similar activity towards the rehabilitation of the Bujumbura Port.
An MOU between Zambia and Burundi was signed in September 2013 with the support of the Bank’s African Legal Support Facility.
Mr Boahen noted that the rehabilitation of the Mpulungu and Bujumbura ports will improve transport services and communications on the Lake Tanganyika area shared by Zambia and Burundi.
The project is expected to increase capacity and efficiency of both ports and consequently enhance the transportation through regional corridors.
It would also enhance safety of navigation on the lake and cargo handling.
The Ministry of Transport in Zambia is currently managing the consultancy for the feasibility study.
“The Bank expects this study to be completed before end of this year to allow for a detailed appraisal and financing with other partners. With all things being equal, we expect this project to be approved before the end of 2016,” Mr Boahen said.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said to this effect the Government had signed an agreement with Burundi to enable the two countries carryout a feasibility study on expansion of the port Lake Tanganyika.
“The African Development Bank will finance the rehabilitation of the Mpulungu port on Lake Tanganyika which should provide access for Zambia to the Great Lakes market.
This will also facilitate and encourage business linkages between Zambia and other countries in the Great Lakes region,” Mr Mukanga said.
“This is a very important project both to the people of Mpulungu and the government as well, because it is going to open up the area for business,” Mpulungu Member of Parliament Freedom Sikazwe said.
Therefore, the project will increase the capacity and efficiency of Mpulungu port and consequently enhance the transportation network through the lake and regional corridors.
It is expected that enhanced transport on Lake Tanganyika will increase the number of jobs at and around the Mpulungu port.