Rupiah, Kikwete agreed to concession TAZARA – envoy

Rupiah, Kikwete agreed to concession TAZARA – envoy
Written by Chibaula Silwamba in Livingstone
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 5:29:54 PM

TANZANIAN High Commissioner to Zambia Dismas Nguma yesterday revealed that Presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Rupiah Banda agreed to concession TAZARA, with preference to Chinese companies.

Explaining what Presidents Kikwete and Banda with their delegations discussed during the bilateral talks in Livingstone on Monday, High Commissioner Nguma said the focus of the meeting was on Tanzania Zambia Railways (TAZARA) which had problems.

"The key areas where they concentrated was on the TAZARA railway, as you know it has not been performing as expected and on that one they agreed jointly look for concessioning of the railway line with the first preference being given to Chinese companies," said High Commissioner Nguma in an interview. "And then they agreed also to send their ministers concerned for transport to go to talk to their counterpart in China and chart the way forward for reviving the railway line again."

Recently, government sources had revealed that the Zambian and Tanzanian governments were planning to concession TAZARA to a Chinese firm.

And High Commissioner Nguma said chieftainship was abolished in Tanzania hence President Kikwete was very happy to witness the Lwiindi traditional ceremony of the Tonga people.

"From Ndola the reception was wonderful, the exhibitions were well organised and then from there we came to Livingstone. The President [Kikwete] said he had been to Lusaka but this time he had the opportunity to visit Ndola and Livingstone and went to a traditional ceremony which was wonderful as you know in Tanzania we abolished the chieftainship right after independence so it was interesting to see how the people are really honouring their culture, coming together to celebrate good harvest after the good rains," said High Commissioner Nguma.

"I am sure it was a good experience for the President. He was very impressed and I am sure he is looking forward to coming back again as President Rupiah Banda said he would like to invite him for a state visit."

President Kikwete, his wife and his delegation left yesterday to Tanzania.