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ABOUT 28 out of 50 wagons to be used on the Chipata-Mchinji railway line have arrived in Chipata District.
Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) Nacala director Vyonsi Manda confirmed yesterday the arrival of the wagons at Chipata railway station.
Mr Manda said ZRL was projecting to complete delivering the remaining 32 wagons by Friday next week.
He said this was to ensure that the railway line started operating by the end of this month.
“So far, there are 28 wagons which have arrived at the railway station and by Friday next week, we shall finish with the remaining wagons,” Mr Manda said.
He said ZRL would get a locomotive from Kabwe in Central Province to Chipata for the operation of the new railway line.
The Chipata-Mchinji Railway project was initiated in the late 1970s between Zambia and Malawi to provide a shorter route to the port of Nacala in Mozambique.
The project was essentially meant to facilitate landlocked Zambia access its imports and exports to the eastern coast of the African continent, but was abandoned due to various reasons.
It was only resuscitated in 2006 during the late Levy Mwanawasa administration.
In 2010, the railway was officially commissioned by former President Rupiah Banda, late Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika and Mozambican Transport Minister Paula Zacula.
The railway would pave the way for the harmonisation and cooperation in the transport sector in order to enhance trade in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
