The Malawi government says it is fast-tracking feasibility studies for the US$6-billion Shire-Zambezi waterway project in order for the construction works for the project to start in 2009 as scheduled.
The Shire-Zambezi waterway project entails the construction of a 238km waterway from Nsanje, Malawi's proposed port of call that will link Malawi to the sea through the port of Beira.
Chief surveyor of vessels in Malawi's marine department Tasiyana Kamanga says the feasibility studies for the project, which are currently focusing on the navigability of the Shire, are so far showing that there is nothing that can bar ships from sailing in the river since the average depth in most places is between eight and nine metres while the width is between 50 m and 60 m.
"It is possible for a 350 horse power vehicle that can carry 30 t or a ship that can carry 400 t to 500 t to sail in the river," says Kamanga.
Malawi's director of planning in the ministry of transport and public works Victor Lungu says after the feasibility studies, the project will move to the implementation stage where by dredging will be carried out in some parts of the two rivers.
Lungu says the government is also preparing to carry out other projects that are linked to the waterway such as the construction of the railway line from Nsanje through the commercial city Blantyre to Chipata in eastern Zambia.
He says the Malawi government is also advancing in its quest to secure financing for the waterway project, which will be financed through a consortium comprising donor agencies, the private sector and governments of the participating states within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa Development (Nepad).
Malawi last year signed a memorandum of understanding with the governments of Mozambique and Zambia to work together on the project which would enable the three countries make a direct annual cumulative saving of US$250-million on transport costs.
"Malawi will designate the Shire-Zambezi waterway as a rapid development zone where investors will enjoy additional incentives including substantially reduced corporate tax and certain exemptions from import duties," says Lungu.
The project's implementation committee, which is responsible for the design and implementation of the project, is made up of senior government officials, representatives of the donor community, marine, civil and structural engineers.
The on-going feasibility studies on the project will include technical, economic feasibility surveys and environmental impact assessment.
The Southern Africa Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and the European Union (EU) have pledged to assist Malawi in implementing the project.
Comesa has already allocated US$500,000 towards the financing of the feasibility studies while the European funded a pre-feasibility study on the project that was carried out by a German firm, Hydroplan Ingenieur.
Landlocked Malawi mostly relies on road transport to link to the world market through the ports of Durban in South Africa, Beira in Mozambique and Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.
Saturday, 26 January 2008
ACT Alert 07/2008: Flooding in Chikwawa and Nsanje, Southern Malawi
Geneva, January 24, 2008
Chikwawa district in the southern region of Malawi has again been hit by floods while in Nsanje district people have started relocating from flood prone areas to higher ground. In Chikwawa, heavy rains caused major flooding between 15th to 16th January 2008 when several rivers burst their banks. The flooding swept away crops, livestock, human dwellings and submerged houses, displacing several hundreds of people. 3 confirmed deaths cases have been reported so far. In Nsanje several hundreds of people are still located in water logged marshy areas where there is a likelihood of the Shire river also bursting its banks which may cause further heavy flooding.
An estimated 523 households are currently homeless (with their houses demolished and belongings washed away). 3 deaths in Chapananga and Ngowe have been confirmed. Currently a total of 471.7 hectares of farm land under crops containing: (maize, sorghum, cassava and sweet potato) has been washed away. More than 100 goats and 200 poultry have been lost. In Nsanje a total of approximately 16,845 people are expected to relocate to higher ground in Nsanje from the floods.
In Chikwawa the displaced population has no permanent shelter, no food, no sanitary facilities, utensils, safe and potable water, enough clothing and blankets. There is a high risk of commutable and water borne diseases as a result of the situation.
Currently no assistance has been given from ACT members the Evangelical Lutheran Development Services (ELDS) or Church Action in Relief and Development (CARD). Both members have a presence in the affected areas. There has also been no assistance provided by other humanitarian organizations so far. The Government of Malawi has only been able to provide tents to some of the people affected by the floods.
ELDS and CARD with support from the ACT Malawi forum members intend to assist the affected populations with distributions of food aid, temporary shelter/sanitary materials (plastic sheeting), utensils, clothing, blankets, water purification tablets and seeds.
A detailed assessment is being conducted by ELDS to target vulnerable persons affected by the floods and to assess the resources needed to support people to recover from the floods. A Rapid Response Fund (RRF) request or an ACT appeal will be sent to ACT CO by next week to facilitate a timely response.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).
Chikwawa district in the southern region of Malawi has again been hit by floods while in Nsanje district people have started relocating from flood prone areas to higher ground. In Chikwawa, heavy rains caused major flooding between 15th to 16th January 2008 when several rivers burst their banks. The flooding swept away crops, livestock, human dwellings and submerged houses, displacing several hundreds of people. 3 confirmed deaths cases have been reported so far. In Nsanje several hundreds of people are still located in water logged marshy areas where there is a likelihood of the Shire river also bursting its banks which may cause further heavy flooding.
An estimated 523 households are currently homeless (with their houses demolished and belongings washed away). 3 deaths in Chapananga and Ngowe have been confirmed. Currently a total of 471.7 hectares of farm land under crops containing: (maize, sorghum, cassava and sweet potato) has been washed away. More than 100 goats and 200 poultry have been lost. In Nsanje a total of approximately 16,845 people are expected to relocate to higher ground in Nsanje from the floods.
In Chikwawa the displaced population has no permanent shelter, no food, no sanitary facilities, utensils, safe and potable water, enough clothing and blankets. There is a high risk of commutable and water borne diseases as a result of the situation.
Currently no assistance has been given from ACT members the Evangelical Lutheran Development Services (ELDS) or Church Action in Relief and Development (CARD). Both members have a presence in the affected areas. There has also been no assistance provided by other humanitarian organizations so far. The Government of Malawi has only been able to provide tents to some of the people affected by the floods.
ELDS and CARD with support from the ACT Malawi forum members intend to assist the affected populations with distributions of food aid, temporary shelter/sanitary materials (plastic sheeting), utensils, clothing, blankets, water purification tablets and seeds.
A detailed assessment is being conducted by ELDS to target vulnerable persons affected by the floods and to assess the resources needed to support people to recover from the floods. A Rapid Response Fund (RRF) request or an ACT appeal will be sent to ACT CO by next week to facilitate a timely response.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).
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