TUESDAY, 11.00AM
The new government in the Democratic of Congo (formerly Zaire) has paved the way for SA rail parastatal Spoornet to return to the country after admitting its earlier nationalisation of the Congo rail network was a mistake.
Spoornet operated parts of Zaire’s rail network for the past two years through its Sizarail subsidiary. Spoorent had 10 locomotives, 20 freight cars and 10 passenger cars together valued at some R25-million in Zaire at the time the victorious rebels seizeed the railways. As a result, the companmy has since allowed no rail traffic to enter southern Congo from Zambia, the most direct route for supplies to Lubumbashi and the south of the country.
Statements made by new Congo finance minister Mwana Nanga Mawampanga suggest all contracts with Mobutu’s government will have to ne renegotiated.