Govt ponders shipbuilding

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

TRANSPORT and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali says Government is considering attracting investors to build ships locally to reduce the high cost of marine transport and enhance competitiveness.
Speaking during a working visit to Mpulungu, Mr Tayali, who inspected infrastructure at Mpulungu Port on Lake Tanganyika operated by Mpulungu Harbour Corporation Limited, stressed the need for Zambia to start building vessels locally rather than relying on foreign vessels.
He noted that neighbouring countries are already constructing their own vessels, giving them a competitive advantage in regional trade.
“I will propose to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, in the 2026 national budget, to zero-rate the importation of equipment and materials required for building ships and other marine vessels,” Mr Tayali said.
“Government can further reduce competition by lowering transport costs, including plans to extend the TAZARA railway line to Mpulungu Harbour from Nseluka,” he said.

The minister added that local shipbuilding would not only reduce costs but also create jobs and stimulate industrial growth.
Meanwhile, Mpulungu Harbour Board chairperson Fellystons Nchimunya said upgrading the port would expand capacity and increase private sector interest.
Mr Nchimunya also proposed the creation of a Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) in Northern Province to unlock new business opportunities for the harbour and its surrounding communities.
And Mpulungu Harbour Corporation Managing Director Katowa Kabunda reaffirmed the port’s untapped potential, saying that with adequate investment and infrastructure improvements, the harbour could significantly grow its revenue base and play a bigger role in regional trade.
The strategic northern port is the country’s only outlet to the Great Lakes Region, serving as a critical trade link to Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Government believes that by lowering costs and enhancing infrastructure, Mpulungu can be transformed into a competitive regional logistics hub.