SADC Member States Have A Heavier Responsibility To Work Together In Translating Their Political Independence Into Economic Independence says zambian gov't

Eastern Province Minister Charles Banda Says The Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) Member States Have A Heavier Responsibility To Continue Working Together In Translating Their Political Independence Into Economic Independence For Its People.

Speaking When He Officiated At This Year’s Sadc Media Day Held In Chipata, Eastern Province Mr. Banda Says Prime Among The Means Of Doing So Is Regional Integration Through Infrastructure Development Such As The Chitpata-Mchinji Railway Line.

Mr. Banda Says Initiated In The Late 1970s By The Founding Fathers Of Three Countries Namely Zambia-Malawi And Mozambique, The Economic Benefits Of The Chipata-Mchinji Railway Line Are Incalculable.

Mr. Banda Has Noted That Comparatively, The Railway Line Is Expected To Provide A Cheaper And Shorter Route To The People Of Nacala In Mozambique For Zambia’s And Malawi’s Imports And Exports.

He Says The Railway Line Will Reduce The Cost Of Transporting Commodities Such As Fertilizer And Agriculture Products From Nacala To Chipata Which Is Projected To Reduce By $30 Per Tone.

The Eastern Province Minister Has Stated That Other Than Agro Inputs And Products, The Chipata Mchinji Railway Will Also Be Used To Transport Large Quantities Of Commercial Goods Like Cement And Copper At Drastically Lower Charges.

Mr. Banda Says The Benefits Of The Development Will Be Felt Far And Wide In The Economies Of Zambia-Malawi And Mozambique In Terms Of Poverty Reduction, Job And Wealth Creation For The People Through Lower Taxes On Goods Entering And Exiting The Three Countries.

He Has Reiterated Government’s Commitment In Partnership With The Malawian And Mozambican Counterparts And Other Stakeholders To Ensure That The Chipata-Mchinji Railway Line Becomes Operational.

Mr. Banda Has Expressed Happiness The Zambian Government Has Just Completed A Feasibility Study Of The Railway Line Dry Port Through Which Cargo Will Be Handled And Is Moving Into The Second Phase Of The Construction Of The Dry Ports And Mobilizing Funds.

Speaking At The Same Function, Malawian High Commissioner To Zambia David Chisala Bandawe Has Noted That The Railway Line Will In Addition To Linking Nacala Corridor It Will Enable Zambia And Malawi To Access Other Shorter Routes To The Sea Through The Port Of Beira Via The Soon Rehabilitated Sena Corridor.

And Zambia Ministry Of Information And Broadcasting Services Amos Malupenga Advised The Media To Highlight Economic Benefits Of Projects Like The Chipata-Mchinji Railway Line