Lusaka — A new Zambian law compelling mining companies and other bulk-cargo firms to transport at least 30% of their freight by rail is "economically inappropriate and unworkable" and should be reviewed, the country’s chamber of mines said on Wednesday. Transport minister Brian Mushimba said on Friday that the law was meant to revive the rail sector and also reduce the cost of doing business, because railway transport was cheaper than road haulage. However, the chamber of mines in Africa’s second-largest copper producer said the rail infrastructure in the country’s copper belt was in poor repair, lacked capacity and adequate security provision. "Insufficient infrastructure exists to make this piece of legislation workable without imposing punitive costs on Zambia’s principal means of generating revenue. It is economically inappropriate and unworkable," the chamber said in a statement. "The chamber calls for a review of this [legislation] and allow for more considered analysis of the...
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