The Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Conference and Exhibition 2024, which was hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa, recently came to an end, but it did so on a high note, signalling a new era for rail commerce in the area. African railway specialists, industry leaders, and stakeholders convened at this conference to deliberate on the role of railways in promoting regional integration, connectivity, and economic progress.
As a result, it offered a forum for high-level discussions and demonstrated the important industry participants’ strong interest in advancing the rail sector. In order to promote economic and social linkages across areas, Hon. Frank Tayali, Minister of Transport and Logistics, emphasized the value of railroads in enhancing connectivity and enabling trade. He claimed that because the conference had a wide range of participants, it was intended to foster a collaborative, networking, and knowledge-sharing atmosphere.
Mazuba Monze, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, stated that the platform was important for exchanging ideas, generating new ones, and formulating strategic plans. According to her, SARA is still fully committed to fostering regional development via the construction of new railroads and solid international alliances that boost capabilities as a whole.
Emmanuel Hachipuka, the Board Chairperson of Zambia Railways Limited, conducted a series of productive discussions with important railway stakeholders throughout the conference. He was optimistic about the various members’ willingness to work with ZRL to handle capacity issues and look into expansion potential.
The Board Chairperson, together with the Acting Managing Director of ZRL, Mr. Godfrey Fumbeshi, engaged with possible suppliers of railway equipment, financiers, and customers who exhibited a quick willingness to start supporting some of the elements in the newly developed Strategic Business Plan. These show the confidence and support that the organization is getting from the industry.
Additionally, the stakeholder conference sped up the discussion about developing and promoting rail transportation services in the SADC area. A wide range of railroad operators and stakeholders are included in SARA, and they are the very inputs that play a major role in the growth and development of the regional railway network.
The 2024 SARA Conference and Exhibition was a resounding success, demonstrating the dedication of all involved to advancing the rail industry. The event created an improved foundation for an integrated and effective regional railway network, which offered the ideal networking environment for information exchange and teamwork. Railroads will, in fact, be crucial in linking nations for both economic expansion and sustainable development.
