Zambia railways and the economic development of Zambia,1967-1991
Date
2017
Authors
Kapanda, Beatrice
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The study has examined the history of Zambia Railways (ZR), its importance and
performance in the economic development of Zambia from 1967-1991. It also examined
the challenges that ZR faced during the same period. Historically, railway transport
played a vital role in the economic activities of post-independence Zambia. Its capacity
to transport goods in bulk has had a profound appeal especially in the major economic
sectors of the country both locally and in foreign trade. Despite its crucial role in
Zambia’s economic activities little is known about ZR’s importance and performance in
the major economic sectors of Zambia. This has created a gap in the railway
historiography of Zambia which this study attempts to fill. The study focused on the
freight traffic as this is the major facility offered by ZR.
Both primary and secondary sources comprising numerical and textual data were used in
achieving the objectives. Much of the information on which the study is based was
derived from archival research, primarily in the ZR Archive in Kabwe, the National
Archives of Zambia in Lusaka, and the United National Independence Party (UNIP)
Archives in Lusaka, Zambia Consolidated Copper Mine (ZCCM) Archives in Ndola and
Central Statistical Office in Lusaka
The findings of the study are that at the inception of ZR in 1967, the UNIP government
made substantial investments in order to sustain it and improve its efficiency. The study
argues that ZR’s performance both locally and externally showed a steady rise in the first
decade of its operations, but began to decline after 1976. The decline was mainly
attributed to the world economic depression of the mid-1970s, which also affected ZR’s
major customers. Thus, the low production in the major economic activities of Zambia
especially the mining sector which largely affected ZR’s freight performance. The
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downward trend continued well up to the 1991. ZR however, continued to dominate in
the external trade transport sector, even in the face of heightened challenges from the
road transport sector.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Railway transport--Post independence--Zambia , Railway transport--Economic --Zambia