Congestion clogs up Swazi dry port

Plans afoot to expand facility JAMES HALL MBABANE – As a sign of its success, Swaziland’s Inland Clearance Depot, or “dry port” owned by Swaziland Railways, is congested to the point of bursting, according to the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Elijah Shongwe. Shongwe led a government delegation through the facility at the Matsapha Industrial Estate, 30 km east of Mbabane recently. King Mswati dedicated the dry port less than four years ago. The facility has experienced a 20% annual growth rate, despite the declining fortunes in recent years of a major rail user, Swaziland’s garment industry. Textile company business has been replaced by such users as Usuthu Pulp, which now transports by rail to Durban’s port a product once sent exclusively by truck. “Rail is now cheaper than road. It’s the rising fuel prices. Customers are shying away from truck transport because of the cost,” Swaziland Railway’s CEO Gideon Mahlalela told FTW. Mahlalela said the dry port’s congestion was a better headache to have than under-usage of the facility, but it must be addressed to satisfy current users and accommodate new business. “We are negotiating with CTA (the Central Transport Authority, which handles Swaziland government vehicles and their maintenance), to purchase their property adjacent to the dry port for expansion purposes,” said Mahlalela. The container depot was originally constructed through loans from the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Mahlalela said Taiwanese government officials recently toured the dry port, and were favourably disposed to grant further loans for its expansion. Most of the major garment makers are Taiwanese owned.