Shire-Zambezi waterway project hangs in limbo
Government says the multi-billion kwacha Shire- Zambezi Waterway Project is no longer a priority.
Ministry of Transport and Public Works spokesperson Andrew Mthiko said the government is concentrating on rehabilitating the old Sena corridor; the railway line from Limbe to Beira port in Mozambique, instead.
Mthiko said the decision is in line with the 2017 National Transport Master Plan which revealed that Malawi could save more by utilizing the railway line unlike the Nsanje Inland port.
The Shire-Zambezi water project was put off balance when Mozambique rejected the project as it had potential to killing the country’s economic lifeline of Nacala and Beira ports.
Former president Bingu wa Mutharika touted the water project his colour dream and envisaged Nsanje growing into an international inland port because of the water way project.
Apa panali kugazitu apa thou relationship didn’t work well between the two nations. Now the relationship is much better. It could have been time for this comedian to go a head with this project. But angokhala abusa, Joker, a Comedian opanda maso mphenya. Kayano tiona chani choti iwo amangapo. Adzingotsegulira ma project a Pita basi. Uyu chakwerayu mwayi ndi ma lawyer anamuika pa mpandowo koma katetedi si munthu wosankhidwa ndi Mulungu zikuoneka. A Joker malizani project you mutchukeko manga tidzakukumbukani ndi chani komangaoti covid ndiyi mene ikulempheretsa zithu basi kumangopanga ma birthday. Izi zibweretsa chotukuko kuopsa ku Malawi.
Ma cadet muchila koma mochedwa
This project will never ever be operational, because the government of Mozambique will never give approval for barges to navigate on the Zambezi River. For Mozambique considers Zambezi as being critical to its security which they believe would be endangered by allowing Malawi to use the Zambezi for ovement of barges etc. Do not forgot that in the 70’s and 80’s Renamo assisted by South Africa’s apartheid regime and rebel Rhodesian troops to move rebel used the Zambezi to attack Frelimo.Kamuzu at that time supported Renamo. So Mozambique will never ever trust Malawi and allow movement on the Zambezi which… Read more Âğ
So itâs this useless port constructed at a cost of billions of Malawians money which has funded Binguâs Palace. Mota Engil should be summoned to Parliament to explain its involvement.
Boma la chakwera kutaya bonwetamweta. Water transport is cheaper than any other alternative you can think of. And with that mentality no wonder government does not exploit the tourism potential of our water resources. Imagine up to now no cruise ships on Lake malawi. Lack of vision amalawi
Yes, the current government is dithering a lot, but you have to get to the genesis of this Nsanje Port saga
Chakwela is short sighted and can not see the strategic value of this project. He will leave without any tangible project on the grout about from his fake american accent. Fotseki
A big white elephant project dreamt up by Bingu after he visited Egypt. It never made any sense. Mozambique’s ports were never threatened by those few containers that may have passed through Nsanje. Focus on the railway line for real progress and to curb the road transporter cartel.
Go back to history. This route used be sailed a century ago
This is the problem with some people, they never read and get to the bottom of things. Nsanje was a port, thats why it was called Port Herald. Bingu (MHSRIEP), saw this as an opportunity. Look at Suez Canal, it was a matter of thinking by the Egyptian leadership and today its a big revenue for that country. Vuto with Africans, Mozambique in particular, they dont want to c Malawi and surrounding countries boost their economy through the use of the port.
Apa pokha Bingu anatotidyekapo galu. Ndalama tinangowononga. Kubwera bu bu bu uja analonjeza kuti atsegula uja, kupitiriza zomwe ankapanga achimwene…. The truth of the matter is that we rushed before conducting the necessary negotiations with a major stakeholder in the name of Mozambique
But after Bingu died did any of the successive leaders engage mozambique to review it’s stand on the project? Bingu’s arrogance may have had impeded the project but his successors also failed us if they did not pursue this issue with the government of mozambique.
Personally I for saw this project a failure not because it is a bad project but because another big stakeholder which happens to be another country was not interested. Since Bingu started lamenting about this project, the Mozambican government has not supported this initiative. Some will bring politics in this but the truth of the matter is that any project which spans between or among different countries has to have full blessings of all involved even if it originates from one country
The development of Africa relies on good relationship with our neighbors. Africa can easily develop when the development agenda is looked at regionally. Unfortunately, Bingu did not play his relational cards with Mozambique well, resulting in environmental and other excuses backed by narrow researches. Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe can form a very good development block. I would urge that the Shire Zambezi waterway should not be replaced with the Sena Rail corridor; but rather be considered in the future.
You are right. The issue here is priority. It’s there on the drawing table but not a priority as for now. It may be coming in the next plan of action. It’s only important to establish if it’s there in the 2063 document.