Nacala Corridor to ease traffic congestion

The newly launched Nacala Corridor, which comprises a new 136-kilometre railway from Kachaso to Nkaya, will ease road traffic and maintenance. This was said during the official launch of the corridor on Friday in Zalewa. Minister of Transport, Jappie Mhango, said general cargo will be transported through the corridor, hence providing a relief to road users. “The corridor will ease road network traffic, thereby reducing maintenance works and making our roads to have a longer lifespan,” he said. Mhango also said the corridor will provide the government with socioeconomic activities, ranging from increased cross-border trade and provision of social services. He said the government will benefit from concession fees which Vale is expected to be paying. “The concession fees will be used to build hospitals, schools and bridges. The rail-line has also provided over 2,000 jobs to our people, which means unemployment issues are being addressed through the project,” Mhango said. He further said the project will enhance the ease of doing business as Malawi strives to improve its ranking to make the top 100 of the World Banks’ Ease of Doing Business index. “The new railway between Kachaso and Nkaya and the rehabilitated and upgraded 100-kilometre Nkaya–Nayuchi section will translate into ease of movement and enhance doing of business by small and medium entrepreneurs, who are the backbone of most economies, Malawi inclusive,” he said. Mhango’s sentiments were echoed by Mozambique’s Minister of Transport, Carlos Mesquita, who said most roads are being damaged by heavy cargo that is being transported on them. He said the project will make doing business cheaper. “This is a valid project that will be used for many years and for many generations. The government will be able to collect concession fees and taxes on goods that use this passage and these will be used for socioeconomic development of this country,” he said. The Nacala Logistics Corridor is an investment by Vale, Mitsui and CFM and is part of an integrated logistics corridor in Malawi and Mozambique comprising 912-kilometre railway connecting Tete, Moatize Coal Mine through Malawi to Port Nacala-à-Velha Multi-User Terminal.

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