Govt to privatise TAZARA to revitalise operations
ARUSHA: THE government is in the process of transferring the operation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) to the private sector to improve its efficiency and boost performance in the transportation of cargo.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Transport Prof Makame Mbarawa, during the opening of the 17th Joint Transport Sector Review in Arusha on Thursday.
The meeting brought together various transport stakeholders. Prof Mbarawa said that the government has reviewed some laws and the policy, including the Railways Act, No 10 of 2017 which gives room for private sector to operate Tanzanian railways. He urged both domestic and foreign private entities capable of providing wagons and engines to seize the opportunity to utilise the railway for a special access fee.
“Now that the laws, rules and the policy have changed, our next step is to inform private sector stakeholders to submit their applications for this operational opportunity on our railways,” said Prof Mbarawa.
He added: “Our goal is to ensure that both the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) operate efficiently. We want to see our trains, especially cargo trains generate substantial revenue.” Regarding TAZARA, he noted its historical significance as a railway established in 1975 connecting Tanzania and Zambia.
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Designed to carry 5.5 million tonnes of cargo annually, TAZARA’s operations have been declining over the years. The government, recognising TAZARA’s challenges, is collaborating with the Zambian government and the Chinese government to attract investment for TAZARA.
“We have already identified a Chinese company and on September 5 this year, we signed an MoU in China between the governments of Tanzania, Zambia and the designated Chinese company. We are currently discussing leasing terms, costs, duration and other concession details,” he explained. He added: “Our aim is to complete this process by the end of the year.
Reviving TAZARA is crucial for Dar es Salaam Port, as it will facilitate cargo transport from DRC and Zambia through TAZARA to the terminal.” Moreover, the minister mentioned ongoing construction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) roads in Dar es Salaam, with plans to extend BRT infrastructure to other cities in the country to reduce travel time.
He noted that road transport currently accounts for over 80 per cent of passenger traffic and more than 95 per cent of freight traffic, leading to premature deterioration of road infrastructure.
The government, through the Ministry of Transport, is also developing a 2,561 km Central Standard Railway Line, revitalising ATCL to meet regional and international air transport demands, modernising ports for efficient import and export handling and enhancing meteorological forecasts for safety in maritime and aviation transport.
For his part, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Mr Selemani Kakoso called on the government to improve transport policies and manage educational institutions within the sector effectively.
He insisted for the need of local expertise in SGR construction and the improvement of ATCL, noting, “ATCL currently lacks sufficient pilots, so we need to train more professionals to oversee our projects. We also appreciate DP World for enhancing efficiency at Dar es Salaam Port; congestion has significantly decreased and it’s important to clarify any misconceptions about this company.”
