08 Mar 2020

SADC has launched the organisation’s Regional Railway Standards in an effort to facilitate compatible railway technical standards.

Speaking at the launch in Gaborone recently, SADC director of infrastructure, Ms Mmapolao Mokoena said such standards were key to ensuring economic efficiency and sustainability of railways in the region.

She also said the standards would address challenges associated with regional railway low performance and loss in market share attributed to lack of harmonised regional railway corridor.

Lack of standards, she said, led to disastrous effects in the railway market.

Ms Mokoena said railways standards, if adhered to, had numerous advantages that included secure private sector investment and conducive work environment.

In this regard, she implored SADC member states, with support of collaborating partners, to domesticate the standards and national railway regulations.

To this end, she said, the SADC secretariat encouraged establishment of independent national railway regulators who shall collectively work as a harmonised body under the Railway Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RRASA). The association was approved for establishment by the SADC Council of Ministers responsible for transport.

Meanwhile, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Mr Garekwe Mojaphoko, called on member states to timely domesticate the railway standards in order to promote efficiency, safety and security in the SADC region.

He said the standards were key in ensuring that there was inter-operability, connectivity, integration and communication amongst member states.

He said it was imperative to ensure that organisations benefitted from the integrated regional rail network needed for stimulating economic activities in the regional bloc.

Mr Mojaphoko said the inspiration to develop and adopt railway standards was drawn from the stakeholder commitment and efforts towards upholding the SADC primary objective on railways, as stipulated in SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology.

According to the protocol, the SADC rail network has the potential to offer safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly transport across the SADC region, connecting all major centres of population and economic activity with developing rural areas.

Currently, the railway system throughout Southern Africa faces substantial challenges caused by the deregulation resulting in unsustainable rail networks which lead to dwindling rail traffic and deteriorating infrastructure.

The SADC railway sub-sectorial committee meeting was held to reflect on reviewing the implementation of the regional indicative strategic development plan crafted in 2015, which was coming to an end this year.ENDS