President Michael Sata has appointed Professor Clive Chirwa as Zambia Railways Limited Chief Executive Officer.
Professor Chirwa replaces Knox Karima, who has been retired in national interest.
According to a press statement released by President Sata’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah availed to Breeze News, the appointment is with immediate effect for a period of five years.
The Head of State states that the rail line has deteriorated beyond description during the concession to Railway Systems of Zambia, which the Government recently terminated.
He says that millions of tonnes of both Zambia’s imports and exports which should have been transported by rail were diverted to road transport in the process exerting a very severe toll on the country’s roads.
President Sata further stated that it would take a lot of effort to sort out the country’s rail line including the inter-mine rail, which is so critical to the efficiency of the mining sector.
Meanwhile, President Sata has given former Zambia Railways Limited Chief Executive Officer Mr. Knox Karima a one month notice in which to facilitate a smooth hand-over to the incoming Chief Executive Officer.
A former UPND, United Party for National Development member, Prof. Chirwa is a distinguished Professor of Automotive & Aerospace Structures and Chair of Automotive & Aerospace Engineering.