By BRIAN HATYOKA –

GOVERNMENT is seeking expertise from the Italian Government to assist in upgrading the Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) trains.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said the Government was already in discussion with the Italian government to help improve the speed of the local trains.
Mr Mukanga said in Livingstone that there was urgent need to improve the speed of trains to attract more business in the service.
“ZRL will not be the same very soon. What we want to do now is to improve the speed of the trains. Already, we have been in discussion with the Italian government to see how best they can help us. We want to change our trains into high speed trains, which will require that we protect the rail with some fencing so that our people are safe,” he said.
He also cautioned Zambians against vandalising railway infrastructure and other Government property in general.
“Any property that belongs to Government should be left to Government and every Zambian should not turn a blind eye when he or she knows people who are vandalising the property. People should report anyone vandalising State property,” he added.
Mr Mukanga has also urged transport operators and those working in construction sites to have proper work safety policies to protect people.
“In the recent past, we have had a lot of accidents and Government is concerned that we are losing a lot of lives. For bus operators, let us educate our drivers and conductors on safety. In the plane, they will tell you about safety measures and we need to do the same in buses and taxis and even in various construction sites,” he said.
He said a lot of people, who were supposed to bring about sustainable development in the country, were dying through accidents, which in many cases was preventable.