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Shire-Zambezi Water Way to open up Southern and Central Africa

At first it was just a rumour that Presidents in Southern and Central Africa Africa are discussing, not to solve conflicts but to re- open a route that was used by explorers in discovering internal Africa.

Now it has happened. Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia recently signed a memorandum of understanding to pave way for the feasibility study of the Shire -Zambezi Water Way.

Malawi Minister of Transport Henry Mussa signed on behalf of Malawi while his Mozambican counterpart signed on behalf of his country. The Zambian Envoy to Malawi Joshua Mwemba signed on behalf of Zambia.

All the three officials pledged support from their governments as the route would reduce the costs in importing and exporting goods and services by 60 percent.

After signing of the memorandum , Director of Transport and Planning in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works in Malawi, Victor Lungu said an international firm will be engaged to carry out the hydrographic study to ,among others, assess the depth of the two rivers.

According to the speech of President of Malawi Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in 2005, Rwanda, Burundi and Zimbabwe stand to benefit from the route.

The route would cost almost $6 billion to construct.

Sindiso Ngwenya, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)Secretary General said earlier this year his organisation would fund half a million dollars (US) for the hydrographic study.

Malawi mostly uses the Tanzanian route .Goods have to travel 1,200 kilometres. However the new route is only 238 kilometres.

Northern eastern Mozambique which is near Malawi would no longer be land locked. Equally, Eastern Zambia will be opened up.Goods are transported from South Africa or Tanzania to Lusaka, the Capital city of Zambia .From there, some of the goods are then transported to Eastern Zambia.

The 2005 Malawi Transport Costs Study indicate that Malawi spends 250 million America dollars every year to export its goods as well as to receive goods from other countries.

According to a document that was sent to NEPAD, the project will involve, among others, construction and rehabilitation of the road from Malawi to Rwanda and Burundi,Dredging and conversion of the Shire-Zambezi waterway into a model cannal, Upgrading and modernisation of Nsanje port in Malawi and Chinde Port in Mozambique as well as rehabilitation

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