Malawi, Zambia,Mozambique seal deal for the Shire/Zambezi Waterway Project Feasibility Study

The Governments of Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia on 15th August 2009, signed a Memorandum of Understanding amid pomp and fun-fair in the Mozambican, capital of Maputo for the feasibility Study of the Shire/Zambezi waterways Project.

The MOU was signed by the three Governments on one part and the Zambezi River Transport Company (ZARTCO). The three Ministers responsible for Transport of the respective countries as well as the Secretary General of COMESA and a representative of

SADC Secretariat witnessed the signing ceremony.

This signing marked a major milestone in the road map for the development of the Shire/ Zambezi waterways into a water transport corridor that will create a new and direct outlet to the sea for Malawi and Zambia as well as other countries in the Southern Africa and the great lakes regions. Direct benefits will accrue to the following countries: the hinterland of Mozambique, northern Zimbabwe, eastern D R Congo, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.

The development of the Shire/Zambezi waterways Project will significantly reduce the transport costs for the countries in the region which we are currently experiencing, on average, the highest transport costs in the world.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Malawi’s Minister of Transport and Public Infrastructure Khumbo Kachali, said: “The importance of the Shire/Zambezi waterways project cannot be over emphasized but we need to urge all of us to support the Project in the spirit of regional integration which we have all subscribed to under our Regional Economic Communities of SADC and COMESA, NEPAD and the African Union”.

The Minister of Communication and Transport of Zambia Geoffrey Lungwangwa said the signing of the MOU was not an end of the journey for the project which started in 2007 with the signing of the MOU amongst the cooperating countries.

“In fact it is just the beginning. Together we will drive down the cost of doing business in order for us to compete more effectively internationally”.

In his remarks, Paulo Zucula, MP and Minister of Transport and Communications of Mozambique stated that the feasibility study would assist participating states to make important and informed decisions for the sustainable development of the Shire/Zambezi waterways for the benefit of the citizens of the countries and the region.

COMESA Secretary General, Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya on behalf of COMESA and SADC Secretariats said “The signing of the MOU marks a major milestone in the implementation of the Shire/Zambezi waterways project,’’