{{The Zambian government says its opposed to the Dar es Salaam city commuter train that runs on Tazara tracks, saying they were not properly consulted before the project took off.}}
Tanzania Transport minister Harrison Mwakyembe inaugurated the city’s commuter train project in October 28 last year using facilities of both the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) and the Reli Assets Holding Company (Rahco).
Tanzania spent about $5.7 million to renovate Tazara locomotives and coaches for the project.
But sources within Tazara told The Citizen recently that the Zambian side has protested over being treated like junior partners in Tazara despite the fact that they are equal partners with Tanzania.
According to the source, who preferred anonymity for fear of reprisals, the Zambians are also saying that since Tazara and its assets were jointly owned by the two sides, any project featuring them must benefit both sides.
Despite the dispute, the Tazara commuter trains are still running plying between Mwakanga on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam and Kurasini, near the Dar es Salaam port.
“It is not because the Zambians are jealous, their major concern is the need for the two sides to respect procedures and regulations that constitute and formed the authority,” said the source.
According to procedures, Tanzania was supposed to table the matter before the Tazara board of directors for discussion and approval, officials from the Zambian government say.
From the board the matter would have been referred to the inter-ministerial meeting comprising transport ministers of the two sides for their blessings.
This procedure was not followed by Tanzania, according to sources, as a consequence of which tension and mistrust between the two sides have reportedly deepened.
Sources say the two sides are working frantically to resolve the dispute with officials from the Transport ministry, Tazara and their counterpart from Zambia holding several meetings to resolve the crisis.
At the centre of the controversy is the Tazara managing director, Mr Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, a Zambian national.
NMG
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