Njanji Commuter Services

Background

The Company was found with the aim of providing cheap mass transit system to Lusaka urban population. The Railway line covers a distance of approximately 30 Km with huge potential for expansion to connect a number of areas of the Lusaka city.

Njanji Commuter started operations on 8th July 1991 as Mulungushi Commuter Railways under Mulungushi Investments Limited, which was a subsidiary of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM).. Its network starts from Libala Township east of Lusaka city centre through the main Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) network in town to George compound located on western side of the city. Along some parts of the network, Njanji Commuter railway line runs through residential areas which were created after it stopped operations.

Njanji Commuter Services Ltd is currently not operational and Government is in the process of approving an implementation plan that will pave the way for the development of the infrastructure by the private sector.

Proposed Commuter Service

The commuter service would cover the Chilenje – George commuter line (about 14 km). The proposed new commuter service is expected to evolve over a period of time and extend the coverage to other places of the city.

The proposed new commuter service can take any format but the following guidance has been given to would be investors/developers and operators of the new service.

NCS Phased Development Plan

Preparation period: 0-3 Years
Phase 1 - Chilenje – Lusaka Main Station – George (14 km). Objective: Rehabilitation and implementation of the current line. Procurement Period:12 months. Time Frame: 3-6
Phase 2 - Chilenje – Lusaka Main Station – George (14 km). Objective: Increase capacity by adding loops at Kamwala and Thornpark/Rothmans. Procurement Period: 6-12 months. Time Frame: 6-8
Phase 3 - Chilenje – Lusaka Main Station – George (14 km). Objective: Increase capacity to maximum number of loops along the line (add Kabwata and Buseko). Procurement Period: 6-12 months. Time Frame: 8-10

The planning and implementation period for the NCS concept is estimated to be 10 years. Two expansion concepts are presented below.

Concept Objective Coverage area Time frame (years)
Concept 1 - Objective: Suburban train. Coverage area: Chilanga to Ngwerere. Time frame:  5 Years Plus
Concept 2 - Objective: Expansion of commuter line. Coverage area: Extension to cover Chilenje suburbs: Woodlands Extension, Bauleni, Chainda and Airport area. Time frame: 10 Years Plus

NCS Service Plan

The physical location of the Njanji commuter rail corridor between Chilenje and Lusaka Main Station and between George and Lusaka Main Station is very well positioned to relieve traffic congestion on major roads in the city of Lusaka.

Population growth, within the attractive zone of the Njanji commuter rail corridor, has been approaching just under 3% since Njanji commuter service stopped running in 1998. The passenger demand therefore will also have risen very significantly as witnessed by the growth in numbers of buses that are travelling the adjoining roads.
Existing Physical Assets

There is a 14km railway line that can be operated with some rehabilitation and putting in place safety measures along the track especially that track has been encroached on because people feel it will never be operational.

The investor will however be required to invest in rolling stock which is none existent.

Potential and Viability of Expansion to Other Areas

The city of Lusaka is developing in the suburbs and there is extensive migration of people from other parts of the country to Lusaka because of mainly higher job opportunities, trade and business opportunities that exists in the city of Lusaka. The settlements have already come up at various places and there is no transport available except road mini buses which are relatively more expensive to the general public.

Maamba Collieries Limited

The company

Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ZCCM Investment Holdings plc (ZCCM IH), a successor company to the defunct Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines plc.

MCL is located in the Southern part of Zambia in Maamba town which is located 352 km from Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. The company was incorporated as a limited company in 1971 under the ownership of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through the Zambia Industrial and Mining Corporation (ZIMCO).

The Company was established after the dissolution of the National Coal Board of Zambia (NCBZ) which had co-ordinated the development of coal mining in Zambia since 1967.

The National Coal Board supervised the initial development of the mine by Sofremines, a subsidiary of Charbonnages de France and later the construction of the Coal Preparation Plant (CPP) by Vinot Pic of France and the 11.8 kilometre bi-cable aerial Ropeway to Masuku rail head by a West German Firm, Powling Herhel Bleichart in 1970 and 1971 respectively.

Products

A total of 78.2 million tonnes of coal reserves is estimated to be available in the MCL assigned area, of which 60.2 million tonnes is proven and 18 million tonnes is probable.
There are two open cast mines operating at Maamba in the Kanzize and Izuma basins with an annual capacity to produce between 600,000 and 800,000 metric tonnes of saleable coal, depending on demand and other constraints. The estimated market for Zambia is about 500,000 tonnes per annum. MCL has not been able to exploit this due to equipment breakdown and lack of investment.

The Coal Preparation Plant (CPP) was installed with the capacity to wash about 700,000 to 800,000 metric tonnes of coal per year while the ropeway has the capacity to transport between 600,000 to 700,000 metric tonnes to Masuku Railway Terminal per annum. However, the CPP requires replacement whilst the robe way requires major rehabilitation work to increase its efficiency and reduce the spillage rate.

Maamba Collieries also mines magnetite ore at Namantombwa near Mumbwa town and is used for coal washing as separating medium. Maamba’s total requirement of processed magnetite stands at 870 metric tonnes per annum.

 

Ndola Lime Company Limited

The Company

Ndola Lime Company Limited (“Ndola Lime”) is a 100% owned subsidiary of ZCCM Investment Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH). Its core business is the production of lime products. The operations of the company are mainly aligned to operations of the mining companies. Consequently mining companies are by far the biggest customers of Ndola Lime, consuming approximately 90% of total production of company’s limestone products.

Ndola Lime, situated on the Copperbelt of Zambia, holds a Mining Licence which also describes the company’s mining area. It is the largest lime producer in Zambia with readily available market on the mines, agricultural, and other sectors with potential for further expansion of the market in the COMESA region.

The Company’s mining area is located on the North-eastern limb of the Kafue Anticline, east of the Ndola Dome. To the north is the Mufulira Syncline.

The rocks in the Ndola Lime’s Licence area comprise dolomites and limestone. The dolomites form the basal part of the formation and are overlain by a series of limestone. The limestone is covered by a capping of laterite which varies from less than 0.5m to about 5m. The limestone in Ndola Lime quarry is highly variable in chemical composition as well as physical characteristics. The dolomites and limestone in the Ndola Lime Licence Area have a general strike of West-East.

 Lime Production

Historical Lime production

Financial Year        Limestone crushed          Quicklime                Hydrated Lime
1999/2000                      460,467                         133,269                     17,143
2000/2001                      437,228                         146,190                     12,449
2001/2002                      476,552                         142,837                     14,007
2002/2003                      440,903                         154,369                     12,731
Average                         458,758                         144,166                     14,083

Production technology of Ndola Lime plant is based on the following main process sections.

a) Limestone quarry operated using the traditional open pit quarrying methods
b) Section for crushing, screening and storing limestone.
c) Section for burning of limestone comprising:

       - One Rotary Kiln
       - One Annular Shaft Kiln (Vertical Kiln)

d) Section for hydration of burned lime.

Nitrogen Chemicals Limited

The Company

Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia Limited (NCZ) has its head office and factory located in Kafue town, 45 Km South of Lusaka. The company has got four branches located in Lusaka, Chipata, Choma and Ndola. The company is accessible by the main line of rail and by a good tarred road. NCZ was incorporated in 1967 and is fully owned by the Government of the Republic Zambia.

NCZ manufactures explosive grade ammonium nitrate, chemical fertilizers, and industrial chemicals. The company is also engaged in trading of the manufactured products.

The following products are utilized in the domestic market; “C” Compound, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), Muriate of Potash (MOP), Urea, “D” Compound, “X” Compound, Ammonium Nitrate, “R” Compound, “V” Compound and Ammonium Nitrate Dense & Porous Explosive grade. 80 per cent of the company’s sales volume is sold domestically. The company used to supply dense Ammonium Nitrate and Sulphuric Acid mainly to the Zambian Copper Mines and also exported Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) to Zimbabwe, Solubar to South Africa and fertilizers to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However the NCZ is currently not running any of its plants due to operational problems.

Products

NCZ uses coal as a base raw material in the production of Ammonia, Nitric Acid, Ammonium Nitrate for explosives and fertilizers. The company also produces Sulphuric Acid, and NPK compound fertilizer. The design capacities of the plant units are as follows:

In Metric Tonnes per Annum
PRODUCTS                           PHASE I KOBE             PHASE II KLOCKNER               PHASE III KOBE             TOTAL
Ammonia                                  30,000                             66,000                                           -                           96,000
Nitric acid                                  50,000                            70,000                                           -                         120,000
Ammonium nitrate for
explosives & fertilizers            60,000                            55,000                                           -                         115,000

Sulphuric acid                               -                                      -                                           60,000                     60,000
Ammonium sulphate                   -                                  50,000                                         -                           50,000
NPK fertilizer                                  -                                142,000                                         -                          142,000

Most of the raw materials for the products of NCZ are found locally. Ammonia is produced from coal which is mined at Maamba Collieries (located 300 km from NCZ) through coal gasification process. The raw materials for Nitric Acid production are compressed air and ammonia while the raw materials for Ammonium Nitrate are Ammonia and Nitric Acid. Sulphuric Acid is produced from pyrites while Ammonium Sulphate is produced from Ammonia and Sulphuric Acid. The compound fertilizer NPK is produced from Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium granules.

Mukuba Hotel

The Company

Mukuba Hotel Ltd is owned by Government and the Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF).

The hotel is situated on a 16 hectare piece of land with natural gardens and herd of graceful impala, among other attractions which symbolises the hotel’s unsurpassed quest for excellence which has earned it the title “Gem of the Copperbelt” amongst the local admirers. The hotel building and other ancillary buildings are in a good state of repair.

Buildings

The main Hotel building has 2 floors and the hotel has a separate administration building.

Banqueting facilities

The hotel’s Chondwe restaurant with a capacity of 120 dinners provides a selection of international a`la carte and buffet menus. The hotels gardens also provide venues for outdoor functions like weddings, private parties and banquets. The courtyard also provides a unique outdoor facility for light meals.

Accommodation Facilities

The Hotel has 52 ensuite bedrooms, comprising 31 twin rooms, 1 executive twin, 7 standard doubles, 7 executive doubles, 2 luxury suites and 1 deluxe suite. There is also a one bed roomed flat and a two bed roomed flat with self catering facilities.

All the rooms are complimented with fridge, trouser press, tea/coffee making facilities, hair drier, bedroom and bathroom phone extensions, Digital satellite Television channels, and an in-house 8 hour video channel and piped music.

The Hotel has been enjoying an average annual room occupancy rate of approximately 60%.

Recreation and Refreshments

Apart from Chondwe Restaurant, the hotel has a coffee shop on the ground floor and two bars namely the Mutomboko and the Mbalasa; the Mutomboko bar is equipped with a Cold room.

The Mukuba Hotel is the third biggest Hotel on the Copperbelt. The market is made up of local and foreign business people, tourists and travellers.

Mulobezi Railway

The Company

The Mulobezi Railway line covers a distance of 163 kilometres, linking Livingstone in the Southern Province of Zambia to Mulobezi in the Western Province. The railway line was constructed by Zambezi Sawmills Company over a period of ten years and reached Mulobezi in 1934. Construction of the permanent way was done using second hand materials from Rhodesia Railways. The railway track was built primarily to transport commercial hardwood timber from areas around Mulobezi to Livingstone, from where it was further transported to the Copperbelt and other areas. MRL operated as a privately owned railway line up to about 1973 when the assets were nationalised by the State and placed under the management of ZRL.
Currently, the company is managed and operated by a private company called Leosons General Contractors Limited (“Leosons”), under contract by Zambia Railways Limited and operates only one train per week. MRL transports an average of 1,150 passengers and about 160 tonnes of freight per month.

Tanzania Zambia Railways (TAZARA)

The Company

The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is owned by the Government of United Republic of Tanzania and the Government of the Republic of Zambia [GRZ] on a 50:50 basis. In addition to TAZARA, each country has its own national railway corporation, Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) and Zambia Railways Limited (now operating as Railways Systems of Zambia under a concession) respectively. The Railway line covers a distance of approximately just below 2,000 km from Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

TAZARA was constructed as a turn key project between 1970 and 1975. The project was financed through an interest free loan of RMB Yuan 988 million (equivalent to approximately USD 500 million) from the Government of the Peoples Republic of China. The railway began commercial operations on 1 July 1976.

The key resources employed by TAZARA include:

Infrastructure Permanent Way: The total length of the TAZARA mainline is 1,860 kilometres of imperial gauge: from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia

Communication System: For communication, a 4 pair overhead open wire line runs from Dar es Salaam to New Kapiri Mposhi. The open wire line was designed to facilitate communication between the major stations, block working, train control as well as inter station and maintenance of permanent way communication. With assistance from the Chinese Government, 328 km of the mainline has had a Microwave Communication System installed, i.e. from Dar es Salaam to Kidunda in Tanzania (128km) and New Kapiri Mposhi to Serenje in Zambia (200km). The open wire communication system is highly vandalized through theft of the copper wires, hence use of VSAT communication system installed with aid from USAID. The VSAT system is in use between the major stations of Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mpika and New Kapiri Mposhi. Four satellite telephones have also been obtained for use in Zambia Region where the open wire system has been rendered inoperative through theft of the copper wires. The TAZARA communication system needs major overhaul and upgrading.

Stations: A total of 93 railway stations were originally constructed on TAZARA, i.e. between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi, but 15 stations have since been closed due to streamlining of the operations of TAZARA, bringing the current number of operational stations to 78.
Workshops: TAZARA has 3 maintenance workshops located at Dar es Salaam, Mbeya and Mpika. The Dar es Salaam and Mpika Workshops were built alongside construction of the TAZARA line by the Chinese, and are assigned to repair and maintain the current fleet of locomotives and rolling stock supplied by China. They are also responsible for the manufacture of spare parts to service the locomotives and rolling stock. The Workshop at Mbeya was built with assistance from USAID, and is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the Krupp/GE diesel electric locomotives.

MOTOR CITY LIMITED

Company Background

Motor City is situated along Lumumba road on Plot number 5091 with an area of approximately 2,500km squared, in Lusaka’s light industrial area.

Motor City Limited was formerly known as Avalon Motors and the main line of business for the company was the sale of motor vehicle spare parts, motor vehicle repairs and sale of motor vehicles.

Forfeiture of the Company to the State

In April 2003 Motor City Limited was forfeited to the Government of the Republic of Zambia pursuant to the Anti-Corruption Act No. 42 of 1996, the Corrupt Practices (Disposal of Recovered Property) Regulations of 1986. The forfeiture notice was published under Gazette Notice number 519 of 2003.

Current Operations

The company stopped its line of business and the premises are now available for alternative or development.

DGH Ploy Products Limited

Background

DGH Poly Products Limited is a company which was incorporated under the Companies Act of Zambia has undergone several ownerships prior it being seized by the Government of Zambia in 2003 under the task force on corruption. The company’s core business is the production and manufacturing of plastic household products.

The company was set up with five operational departments which included;

• Extrusion Department,
• Bag Making Department,
• Injection Moulding Department,
• Blow Moulding Department,
• Recycling Department.

However, only three sections are operational and these are Injection Moulding, Blow Moulding and Recycling Department. The Injection Moulding department produces plastic tabs, dishes, cups, and plates. The Blow Moulding department produces 2.5 & 5 litre containers and the Recycling section is for the production of scrap materials into usable raw materials.

The other departments are not functioning due to either machine breakdown or lack of raw materials.