Mswati pushes for switch rail

MBABANE – King Mswati
used a state banquet
for Namibian President
Hifikepunye Pohamba last
week to issue directives
affecting road freight transport
in Swaziland.
After a series of road
disasters perpetuated by
overloaded or mechanically
faulty trucks – and parliament’s
declaration last month that
Swaziland’s highways were
a “national disaster” – the
country’s ruler declared
that truck usage must be
reduced and be more carefully
monitored on key sections of
highway outside Mbabane. He
called for a swift rehabilitation
and reopening of the dormant
rail line between Ngwenya,
near the Oshoek border post
with South Africa, and the
Matsapha Industrial Estate.
He proposed a lessening
of truck usage on the only
highway artery connecting the
capital with the central and
eastern parts of the country,
and better vehicle inspection.
“We are aware of plans
to construct a railway line
from Lothair to Swaziland
and neighbouring countries.
However, there is an immediate
need to rehabilitate the
railway line from Ngwenya to
Matsapha so that the trucks can
offload onto trains at Ngwenya
which would transport the
cargo to Matsapha and other
destinations. This would
help avoid the trucks having
to utilise the Malagwane
Highway,” the king declared.
The rail link, controlled by
Swaziland Railway, needs only
ties and rail replaced, former
rail company CEO Gideon
Mahlalela told FTW. The rail
bed is still usable, he said.
The Ngwenya to Matsapha
line is to be rehabilitated
as part of the Lothair Line
that Swaziland Railway is
constructing in partnership
with Transnet Freight Rail. The
line will allow uninterrupted
rail traffic directly from
Gauteng to Maputo via
Swaziland, saving shipping
distance and time for users
who currently must ship to
Komatipoort before a westward
leg through Swaziland to
Mozambique.