More than 1 billion US dollar (5,4 milliarder DKR has been pledged by international donors for the upgrade of transport links across East and Southern Africa, BBC online reports Monday.
The North-South Corridor initiative aims to get goods to market faster and cheaper with improved infrastructure and more efficient border crossings.
The project aims to raise the living standard of millions of people. The money will come from the World Bank, international development agencies and the private sector.
In order to speed up the transportation of goods from Tanzania, via Zambia to the ports of South Africa, the project will remove red tape and oversee the upgrade of 8.000 km of road and 600 km of rail track.
At Zambias busiest border post, Chirundu, says truckers currently have to wait three or four days before they can enter Zimbabwe. The project aims to cut waiting times to two hours by streamlining procedures.
The estimated total cost of improving transport and trade links in the region is 12 billion dollar to be spent over two decades.
The cooperation of eight African countries – Tanzania, DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa – is needed for the project to be successful, BBC adds.
