Railway system of Zambia is a total failure-govt
- Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 8:36
- Breaking News
- 9 comments
Special Assistant to the President for Policy Implementation, Ben Kapita, says the Railway Systems of Zambia has totally failed to deliver and effectively contribute to the development of the transport sector in the country.
And Mr Kapita has said government is concerned with the pace at which the Road Development Agency (RDA) was excuting the development of the road sector in the country.
Mr Kapita said since taking over the operations of the company Railway Systems of Zambia has not been investing in the construction of new infrastructure and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure in the country.
Mr Kapita said government has also failed to terminate the contract it has with the firm because the exit close which was signed would cost government a fortune.
He said government has been finding difficulties to get rid of the Railway Systems authority because the exit close has proved to be too costly for the government.
And Mr Kapita said government was not happy with the way the RDA was working in the country.
He alleged that the organization was awarding contracts to companies and individuals that were abandoning their works or doing shoddy works.
Mr Kapita further said most of the roads that were funded and rehabilitated by contractors recruited by the RDA were in a deplorable state despite spending huge sums of money on them.
And Kitwe District Commissioner, Macdonald Mtine, said most of the roads in the district were in a deplorable state.
Mr Mtine said despite the RDA indicating that they were going to work on a number of roads in the district, the situation was still pathetic.
He appealed to the organization to find a lasting solution to the problems affecting the roadnetwork in the district.
Mr Kapita is on t
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Yeah go for them and put it right. The roads and RCS problem really needs tackling. In my books, it actually needs more attention then the Chiluba thriller
So who were our lawyers who worked on the RSZ contract? How possible is it that a government of the day could enter into an agreement on behalf of the country with a foreign entity without securing a favorable exit criteria in case of non performance? We’re a landlocked country & railways is our lifeline. Due care must have been exercised in dealing with such an important asset. One wonders what the point is of having a government if it does not protect interests of the nation, worse still, we don’t seem to believe in making people accountable for their professional misdeeds. We seem to be happy paying people to mess our country!
“And Kitwe District Commissioner, Macdonald Mtine, said most of the roads in the district were in a deplorable state.”
100% marks for a unique and new observation Mr Mtine! This has been the case since 1980! The Kitwe I visited in 1977 was not like this! The old photos of Kitwe taken in 1950s and early 60s show a beautiful town with tree lined Independence Avenue. At one time UNIP cadres stripped the trees while marching for their demonstrations before independence. Zambians need to be renewed in their thinking towards the environment. It is strange that such a religious country (Christian Nation?) can have people who have terrible and untidy habits. It starts with that one piece of paper you throw away carelessly, the urinating by the street corner, the spitting of chewing gum that leads to a dirty environment. We do not have to have every road asphalted, we could use cobble stones instead. Why can’t communities mobilise themselves to give of their time and resources to work on their neighbourhoods? We did such things in our schools long time ago. I planted a tree when I was in grade 6! Take Labour day for example, instead of parading to listen to patronising speeches from politicians, why do Zambians, young and old, male and female, posh and rough, don overalls, boots and with pick and shovel get to work on their neighbourhoods? Where, Oh! where is the communal spirit gone? The Russian civilians were mobilised to dig defences from Nazi German tanks and they survived. We need such a war effort to make a difference instead of complaining and moaning about the ‘deplorable state of the roads’ everyday!
ERRATUM:
” why do Zambians, young and old, male and female, posh and rough, don overalls, boots and with pick and shovel get to work on their neighbourhoods?” should read,
” why DON’T Zambians, young and old, male and female, posh and rough, don overalls, boots and with pick and shovel get to work on their neighbourhoods?”
GRZ and the hypocrisy in them! Look at the roads in Zambia 2de. If GRZ wanted to serve RSZ, it should have told all mines to trtansport their products by rail upto borders. This should have served no only the RSZ but also the much needed road net work in Zed. BaKapita Caposis Sacoma yamichimfya nomba atini?
good observation by Mr. Kapita. There should have been deliberate law to make it a must that some or all massive goods should be transported by railways than by roads.Do that the railway company will be very viable than it is today. We are told that the railway company has started buying copper from kcm then transport to RSA for resail clearly that is moving away from the mandate of being transporters to being traders. Law makers redeem yourselves especially Mr. Kapita you are in prevaleged position to change things.
the govt is so dull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
Ah!
No one mentions in the story or reader comments that RSZ is being managed by Israelis. Recall his statement that the drought in Zambia ended after diplomatic ties with Israel were restored during his tenure!
Now, be careful before anyone criticises RSZ management? There will be drought!
DONT JUST CONDEMN YOUR ALSO PART OF THE PROBLEM AS GOVERMENT