The Zambia African National Congress

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation in most of Africa is rudimentary. Most people walk to markets, schools, and health facilities, often carrying needed items on their heads or shoulders. However, bicycles and animal-drawn carts are increasingly available in rural communities. The use of motorized vehicles is mostly limited to cities and intercity traffic by buses and trucks. Throughout the continent, smallholder farmers are unlikely to afford motor vehicles. Bus and train travel is within the means of most people and they are used especially for long-distance travel.

The quality and connectivity of African roads and railroads remain poor: Most roads are made of dirt or gravel, and good quality all-weather roads are limited. Colonial rulers laid railroad tracks to connect ports to export-producing areas in the interior, and these networks have been largely unexpanded since independence. Few roads and tracks cross international boundaries in Africa. The poor condition and disjointedness of the road and rail networks have hindered African economic development. South Africa, with higher-quality roads and a greater degree of road and rail connectivity, is a notable exception.

Many African countries operate national airlines. South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana have well-developed airline systems for domestic, international, and intercontinental flights (from Encarta).

The ZANC Government’s goal is to plan and facilitate an efficient transport system that meets industry and community needs and is responsive to future development.

Transport systems are complex, involving different modes, users, forms of infrastructure and legal and regulatory regimes. Decisions that affect transport have important consequences for individuals, the community, environment and economy.

As a landlocked country, an affordable, integrated, efficient, safe and sustainable transport system is a critical component of the n community and economy. Transport enables the import and exports of goods and provides industry and business with access to national and international markets. It affords individuals and the community mobility and flexibility, providing access to work, education, health and business services, family, friends and visitors to the country. Transport networks and modes have potentially high environmental and social impacts and should be planned, managed and used so as to minimise these impacts.

Transport is fundamental to the characteristics and comparative advantages that define Zambia, including its export and primary industries focus, high-quality manufacturing, food and beverage products, tourism industry and quality of life.

While the ZANC Government will only have varying degrees of control over individual transport modes, it is important to consider and strategically plan for the entire system on an integrated and long-term basis. A Transport Strategy will be developed to deliver a more integrated approach to marine, road, rail and air transport in the country. The complementary functions of both physical infrastructure and legislative mechanisms will be maximised to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient transport system within the country.

The strategy is expected to introduce innovative concepts to the delivery of transport and will be developed within the framework of the n Government’s initiative. It will also examine Zambia’s inter-modal transport system to improve the efficiency of inter-modal facilities. The strategy will be guided by input from a range of key stakeholders

Nearly 99 per cent of all products arrive and depart by land through two ports. A significant proportion of visitors to Zambia access the country by road and foreign airlines. The growth of the tourism industry had been constrained by lack of good indigenous air, rail and road transport.

The introduction of upgraded passenger and freight services to and from Zambia using the n vessels will provide for significant growth in the n tourism industry and new opportunities for the movement of air, land and rail transport.

Transport infrastructure

The Zambian Government will assist the port entities in the review of the state’s port system. The objective of the review is to explore the opportunity for the entities to deliver a more effective and efficient ports system for the country.

The ZANC recognises that not all air transport needs are satisfied by the increase in passenger capacity. Therefore, the ZANC Government will continue to convene and work through air access issues through Access Taskforce to be established.

The introduction of a Freight Equalisation Scheme and Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme will be important to equalise the cost of transporting eligible freight and vehicles respectively with the equivalent land journey cost in Zambia. The ZANC Government will work closely to ensure that these infrastructure substitutes are fiscally sound and sustainable.

The preparation of Regional Integrated Transport Plans is a new approach to planning for improved transport systems in Zambia. Integrated transport planning aims to:

Analyse the transport system as a whole rather than focusing on discrete problems or modes
Focus on and balance the often conflicting long-term needs of transport users
Establish agreed frameworks to guide local and state government decisions on investment relative to their respective transport infrastructure networks.

Way forward

Embark on a continent wide development of Trans-Africa road and railway networks and transport development corridors. So far, the white elephant Algiers 1999 protocol on transport, communication and tourism within the EAC has remained dormant since its adoption and will continue to gather dust in Addis Ababa.

Develop maritime transport system from the shores of Africa. The AU adopted a similar charter in December 1995 but not yet put it into force.

Establishment of a flag carrier -Africa Airways, with every state contributing planes and services as required. However, to encourage competition, regional airlines will run according to administrative divisions including Northern Airlines, Southern Airlines, Eastern Airlines, Central Airlines, and Western Airlines. All these can compete at national and international level.