Ways are being sought to improve Tazara, Tazama

Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara)

Tanzania and Zambia are looking for ways to improve operations of Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) and the Tanzania-Zambia Oil pipeline (Tazama).

This was been revealed by the Zambian High Commissioner to Tanzania, Prof. Royson Mukwena in Dar es Salaam when speaking recently to mark his country's independence day.

``Just last week, the two countries Council of Ministers on Tazara met in Dar es Salaam and agreed on the ways forward for the corporate entity,`` he said.

He said over the last twelve years, government officials from the two countries have been meeting several times to find ways to strengthen the services of the two joint ventures.

The Zambian High Commissioner said Tanzania has continued to ensure that crude oil, which is critical to the economy of Zambia, is smoothly pumped to the country through the Tazama facility.

Prof. Mukwena, said bilateral relations between Tanzania and Zambia have continued to grow from strength since independence as the countries also keep on enjoying a strong relationship rooted in a common colonial past and rich African heritage.

For a long time, Tazara has not been operating well due to various challenges arising from internal and external influences.

``We are greatly indebted to our founding fathers, Dr Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and the late Julius Nyerere of Tanzania for having laid a firm foundation for close co-operation between the two countries upon which we have continued to grow our relations``, he said.

According to him, regional cooperation and integration is the surest way of promoting economic development and political stability on the African continent.

Zambia which attained her independence in 1964 has a population of more than 20 million and has various untapped resources.

Some of them are in agriculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing sectors.

Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof. Jumanne Maghembe, said Tazara, which was constructed jointly by the two countries with the support from the Peoples Republic of China has been important to both countries as well as other SADC member countries for transportation of people and goods.

He said Tanzania has continued to construct and improve infrastructure, such as roads and ports so as to facilitate trading activities between the two countries.