Leading local transportation experts and private sector players are missing from a list of key presenters at the 3rd East and Central Africa Roads and Rail Infrastructure Summit in Dar es Salaam next Thursday.

The Minister for Transport, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe

In a statement, organizers of the summit, Magenta Global Pte Limited of Singapore, said the two days conference will listen to presentations from rail and road transport senior officials from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.

“Taking on the post of transport head earlier this month, member of parliament Harrison Mwakyembe has been tasked by President Jakaya Kikwete with the rehabilitation of Tanzania’s railway system that is critical to the efficient distribution of goods arriving at the country’s ports,” the statement said.

While Dr Mwakyembe will deliver a keynote speech, much of the presentations will come from a distinguished panel of industry leaders including Akashambatwa Lewanika who is Chief Executive Officer of Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority, Meshack Kidenda who is Director General of Kenya National Highway Authority, Captain Dukundane Dieudonne, Director General of Burundi Maritime, Port and Railways Authority and Sipho Khumalo, CEO of Cross Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA) of South Africa.

The only local senior company official expected to make a presentation at the summit but who is yet to confirm his participation is Reli Assets Holdings Company Limited acting Director General, Engineer Benhardard Tito.

Other speakers include Nelson Nyangu who is Director of Planning, Ministry of Communications and Transport in Zambia, Atama Gabriel Richard, Principal Infrastructure Officer from Uganda’s Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Dr Twagira Elias Mathaniya, Director General of Rwanda Transport Development Agency and Dr Michael Odongo, Executive Director of Uganda Road Fund.

Hosts are also absent from the list of private sector representatives expected to attend the high level meeting which mentions Kenya Railways Authority’s Managing Director, Nduva Muli, South African based Africa Project Access Managing Director, Paul Runge, Chief Operating Officer of Global Infrastructure (KPGM) in South Africa, Klaus Findt, Development Bank of South Africa Evaluation Specialist, Peter Copley and UK based Rail Working Group Secretary, Martin Fleetwood.

The CEO of the conference organizing company, Mr. Maggie Tan, said the gathering represents a premier meeting to address the roads and rail infrastructure challenges facing the region.

“The summit will facilitate the exchange of fresh information, present new projects and engage industry stakeholders on viable project models for sustainable development of the transport infrastructure in East and Central Africa,” Ms Tan said.

Source Tanzania Daily News