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Freeman Razemba, Senior Reporter
Ministers of Transport from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana are meeting in Harare to discuss trilateral collaboration in upgrading the existing railway line within the framework of the deep-sea port and railway line commonly known as The Ponta Techobanine.
Their meeting comes after another one for Permanent Secretaries from the three countries was held yesterday to come up with a draft of the project’s implementation.
The Permanent Secretaries will present the draft to the Ministers of Transport of the three countries who will then present it to the three Heads of State once they have endorsed it.
The three Ministers are Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, Botswana Minister of Transport and Public Works Eric Mothibi Molale and Mozambique Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Amilton Florêncio Alissone.
Other ministers who were also present during the meeting are Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution Charles Tawengwa and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister, Sheila Chikomo.
The officials who met yesterday were Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary, Engineer Joy Makumbe, Mr Ambrósio Sitoe, Permanent Secretary of Mozambique’s Ministry of Transport and Communications and Permanent Secretary of Botswana’s Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Mr Kgakgamalo Ken Ketshajwang.
The ambitious US$6,5 billion Techobanine Deep Water Port and Railway Line Project was initiated by Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
It took off last month following the signing of the tripartite agreement by President Mnangagwa, President Filipe Nyusi and President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
The initiative has the potential to unlock opportunities that will transform trade infrastructure within Southern Africa and improve transport and logistics efficiencies.
Businesses and individual citizens from the three countries are expected to benefit from the project whose scope covers the rehabilitation and upgrading of the railway line linking Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
This will also facilitate bulk cargo movement within the bloc and connect it to global markets.
Online Reporter