West PS calls for more trade cooperation between Zambia, Angola

Western Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba has said there was need to put in place measures that will harness border trade and development between Zambia and Angola in Shangombo district.

Mr. Mwamba said this when he paid a courtesy call on Rivungu District Administrator Julio Vidigal on Wednesday this week.

He explained that both Angola and Zambia should strengthen their ties even at local level through cooperating in programmes of development, trade and agriculture.

Mr. Mwamba said the plans to put up a petroleum pipeline from Luanda to Rivungu and the construction of a road, bridge and railway line by the Angolan aovernment will boost trade and development of both Rivungu and Shangombo districts.

And Rivungu District Assistant Administrator Antonio Simao said his country has outlined a number of development programmes some of which will need the support of the Zambian government.

Mr. Simao explained that there were plans to harness water and electricity from Zambia through the Rivungu-Shangombo canal next year.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mwamba called on the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to establish offices in Shangombo to collect revenue from the unmonitored border trade going on in the district.

The Rivungu-Shang’ombo canal forms an effective water transport link between Zambia and Angola. The canal will cover 8.2 kilometres starting from Tako in Shang’ombo to Rivungu in Angola.