Overseas funds help with vital road upgrades

Anna Cox SEVERAL ROAD rehabilitation projects have moved into gear to improve and facilitate trade and freight movement in Southern Africa. This is in line with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) transport plans for the Southern African Development Community. The rehabilitation of the Sena and Machipanda railway lines in Mozambique is expected to rejuvenate the Zambesi region linking Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. The South African Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which has railway operator Spoornet as its technical partner, was invited by the Mozambican government to submit a prequalification tender. Significant parts of the 582km Sena line were destroyed by civil unrest. The cost of repairs is estimated at $350 million and the World Bank is committing some financial support. The Machipanda line also had some sections damaged, but is still currently operational. Tenders closed in May for the prequalification bids. Malawi has been granted funding by the European Union for the construction of a 93km road from the northern district of Karonga to the district of Chitpa on the border of Tanzania and Zambia. The project had been started, but came to an end because of lack of funds. The African Development Bank had committed $17 million on condition that the Malawi Government found the balance of funds for the project. The European Union has now agreed to provide the remainder of the funds. The Republic of China has committed an additional $4,5 million for the project which will start in the second quarter of this year.