Tanzania, Zambia to resuscitate TAZARA, TAZAMA ventures

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Edgar Lungu , Jakaya Kikwete
Edgar Lungu , Jakaya Kikwete

Zambia and Tanzania have agreed to resuscitate joint ventures that include the Tanzania-Zambia Railways, Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta oil pipeline (TAZAMA) and the Nakonde-Tunduma one stop border post with a view of enhancing their operations.

 

The two governments have also agreed to explore the possibilities of jointly exploiting renewable energy sources as well as upgrading the Zambian electricity transmission lines to Sumbawanga town in Tanzania in order to improve power supply.

 

The agreements were made during the bilateral official talks held at State HouseFebruary 25, between President Edgar Lungu and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete.

 

The bilateral official talks were also attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, Justice, Commerce, Trade and Industry and Mines, Energy and Water Development of Zambia as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance of Tanzania.

 

Also in attended were the Deputy Minister at State House of Zambia and the Deputy Minister of Transport of Tanzania as well as other senior government officials from the two countries.

 

According to the communique read out to the media today by Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba at his office, the two heads of state and government discussed a wide range of bilateral issues of mutual interest in particular the TAZARA, TAZAMA, electricity power supply to Sumbawanga and the Nakonde-Tunduma one stop border post.

 

The two leaders noted that TAZARA had for a long time suffered from lack of investment and recapitalization hence they commitment themselves to meeting their respective government’s financial obligations to TAZARA.

 

Regarding the management of TAZARA, the Presidents directed that the recruitment of the managing director and deputy should be done on the competence, qualifications and experience through an open and competitive recruitment process.

 

It was resolved that the two shareholders will continue  to work on the balance sheet in order to make TAZARA attractive to private investors while on Nakonde-Tunduma one stop border post, the two heads of state reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating the smooth movement of goods, services and people.

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Kikwete has invited President Lungu for a state visit to Tanzania on a date to be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

 

President Kikwete and his entourage were in Zambia for a two day state visit at the invitation of President Lungu.

 

The Tanzanian head of state has since returned to his country.

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