/ 20 April 1999

RAIL LINK DELAYS

NO significant progress has been made in establishing a rail link between Namibia and Angola, despite a feasibility study recommendation that there is enough traffic to justify the link. TransNamib Transport spokesman Usi Hoebeb said on Friday that the project will be delayed for some time. Namibia has first to find partners from the international private sector to co-fund the project, which will ultimately cost N$500-million. As the more than 300km-long track would take years to complete, the present fighting in Angola is not expected to disrupt its development. Earlier Hoebeb said the Namibian government is scheduled to hold talks with Angola and the Southern African Development Community to ensure the rail link receives support from all parties, including opposition party Unita. At present the railway line only goes as far as Tsumeb.