Funding challenges have delayed progress of the K68 billion 72-kilometre Marka- Bangula railway project that seeks to reopen Malawi’s access to Mozambique’s Indian Ocean port of Beira which is currently at 20 percent completion.

Project consultant Christi du Plessis of R and H Rail and Civilia Consultants lamented this yesterday when Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba inspected progress of the project.

In an interview after the inspection, she said foreign exchange shortages, diesel scarcity and an increase in the scope of work have compounded delays of the project.

Du Plessis said this will, therefore, lead to the project missing its November deadline. She said all things being equal, if all challenges are addressed, the project will finish by end of next year.

Zamba (C) appreciates the works at Villa
Nova da Fronteira

She said: “We are very behind with only 20 percent of the work done. We should have done 70 percent plus by now.

“If things are resolved, the nearest we can finish is end of next year. Now, we are going towards the rainy season and we have lost a lot of work time outside the rainy season.”

But du Plessis said there have been discussions with the Ministry of Transport and Public Works and other government officials on the issues.

When asked on the funding challenges, Zamba blamed it on the previous Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime voted out in the June 23 2020 court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election.

She said the current administration is paying back debts which the DPP government incurred, as such, there are months when government spending is limited.

But Zamba assured that the project would fully commence by September, ,stressing that funding woes would be addressed.

China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation (CR20) Limited was contracted by the government to construct the railway, which is anticipated to ease transport challenges and steer trade between Malawi and Mozambique.

CR20’s engineer Vitumbiko Mumba in a separate interview, expressed optimism that once the project commences there will be no challenges.

The project was mooted in October 2020 after President Lazarus Chakwera met his Mozambican counterpart Felipe Nyusi and agreed to revive the Sena Corridor to link the two countries by rail.

The corridor provides rail connection to the Beira Port in Mozambique for landlocked Malawi. Mozambique completed its 44-km section from Mutarara to Marka

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