Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

ESWATINI RAILWAYS ENGAGES STAKEHOLDERS ON GOBA CORRIDOR

By SILINDZELWE NXUMALO | 2022-10-23

Eswatini Railways (ESR) has engaged different stakeholders on a workshop on issues concerning the Goba Corridor.

This workshop was to expose business people to the opportunities available in using the railway line between Eswatini and Mozambique to access the Maputo Port. It was held at the Royal Villas yesterday.

Present at the meeting was Ministry of Public works and transport Principal Secretary (PS) Thulani Mkhaliphi, ERS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nixon Dlamini, representatives from Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) and representatives from Mozambique ports and railways.

ERS CEO Nixon Dlamini explained the services offered by ERS and Railways organisation in Mozambique to their stakeholders.

Dlamini said some people may not be in a position to understand that the Maputo port was a viable sea port that customers could use.

“This is especially because this port is very close to Eswatini and the railway stations in,” he said.
He stated that if a client had a consignment in the country and they wanted to transport goods to the port they could always use them because it only took eight hours to get there from Matsapha.

“This is the message we are trying to convey because this is a very good preposition for anyone with a consignment in the country and wants to send their goods via rail,” he said.
He added that with Eswatini being a landlocked country, there was a need for a robust gate-way and the Goba corridor presents that opportunity to the country.

“The corridor comes as an alternative from Durban port and Richards Bay Port, as it is a very close port compared to others,” he said.

Mozambique Ports and Railways Chief Traffic Manager Ernesto Massingue said as partners with ERS they had come to present business opportunities on their rail line and how they complement in rail in the transportation of goods from Eswatini.

“This corridor is one we have done investment on and we shall continue to invest on,” he said.
He said their main aim was to leave the meeting having more customers to be served through the Goba corridor and taking into consideration that it has a huge carrying capacity.

“We have put safety precautions on the rail line and we have come to assist in reducing costs on the logistics chain by providing the service where they could be able to import and export through the Mozambique ports and the Eswatini railways”, he said.

share story