JOHANNESBURG - Emmanuel Ntshangase, Country Manager of Maersk Line
Hinterland Territories on Monday said access to the Hinterland countries
is vital for the growth of the African continent, as each of the countries have
a great deal to offer the rest of the world.
“Lake Nyasa in Malawi contains more fish species
than any other lake in the world, making it a prime location for the export of
fish. Furthermore, Zambia is
Africa’s second largest copper producer and Zimbabwe is the world’s sixth
largest tobacco producing country.” Poor inland connectivity and the related cost to move
products inland are among the biggest challenges currently facing landlocked countries with
regards to trade.
“The World Bank
Trading Across Boarders Report, which ranks economies on their ease of doing
business, suggests that Hinterland Countries currently have room to improve
when it comes to moving products inland.”
Ntshangase said the majority of these issues to the high
proportion of cargo that currently moves inland via road. “The border crossings
and customs processes in these landlocked countries were not
designed for the amount of traffic and cargo that currently moves via road,
which has occurred due to the use of railways having diminished over the
years.”
He said increasing the use of rail, which reduces the
amount of cargo on the road, provides a solution to the majority of these
challenges and brings about numerous advantages in the form of lower costs,
diminished risk and social benefits. “Rail transport is a cost-effective option in
comparison to truck transport, particularly for heavy 20’ containers, and
railways are more and more willing to work with customers to find better
transport solutions.
Risk is also reduced in terms of port storage as well as
possible standing time at the border posts and finally, from a more social
aspect, roads will not be further damaged and by reducing trucks on the roads,
there will be fewer truck-related accidents.”
Ntshangase said: “Closer to South Africa, Transnet Freight Rail are
continually performing maintenance and upgrading lines as well as locomotives whilst
all the other Southern African rail operators, which include the
National Railways of Zimbabwe, Zambia Railways Limited, and the Mozambican
Ports and Rail Company, are starting to work much closer together as
they have realised that they all are part of the total supply chain.
Collaboration between these rail operators is therefore vital.”