ZAMBIA, TANZANIA AGREE TO REVAMP TAZARA

Tanzania and Zambia have agreed to revamp the Tanzania – Zambia Railways -TAZARA- through a joint financing project.

The two countries have also agreed to expand the TAZAMA- Pipeline following change in objectives from transportation of crude oil to finished products.

And Tanzanian President SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN says the agreement emanated from poor performance of TAZARA and the need to rehabilitate the current Railways in partnership with other development partners.

Briefing the media after closed door bilateral meetings and official talks with President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA at State House in Dar Es Salaam, Mrs. HASSAN added that talks around TAZAMA follow change of objectives of the pipeline.

The Tanzanian President also stated the need for Ministers of Commerce from the two counties to engage on non tariff and tariff barriers that are affecting trade especially among cross border traders.

MEANWHILE, President HICHILEMA said Zambia wants to learn how Tanzania has managed to organize its artisanal miners following increased Gold mining among Small and Medium Enterprises- SMEs.

The Head of State said he was impressed to learn that Tanzania helps to finance operations of Small Scale Miners and links them to markets.

President HICHILEMA added that rekindling cooperation established by the founding fathers of the two countries will help leverage on opportunities in the regional blocs.

Zambia and Tanzania have also signed three Memoranda of Understanding in Defence and Cultural Arts. This is contained in a report published by ZNBC.