Lake Tanganyika is the sixth largest lake in the world.
It borders four countries and has a high economic potential.
However, many trade and business opportunities remain unexploited.
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO commissioned a market study
to identify opportunities and challenges to increase trade.
Mpulungu port, about 1000 km northeast of Lusaka, is the focus of this study.
The study complements Dutch support for the maritime
sector and agribusiness development in Zambia.
Zambia trades with Burundi, the Eastern Congo and Tanzania through Mpulungu port.
The port facilitates goods and passenger flows.
The main traded items are bulk goods like cement, sugar and maize.
Opportunities exist to expand these traditional exports, in particular maize.
Other opportunities exist in fast moving consumer goods,
and in facilitating and formalizing informal trade.
At the northern end of the lake is Bujumbura port
serving as a gateway to Burundi and the Eastern Congo.
The challenges confronting trade between Mpulungu and Bujumbura are
emblematic of the wider challenges to trade on Lake Tanganyika
These include infrastructure bottlenecks,
a lack of market information and awareness
and a lack of regional cooperation.
Ngwenya market in Mpulungu
is a thriving market and landing site
serving informal traders and entrepreneurs.
Informal or small-scale traders face similar challenges
as formal or large-scale traders.
One challenge is the reliance on small wooden boats
with limited capacity, range and a poor safety record.
A game changer would be modernized transportation services
such as a combined cargo/passengers vessel similar to the MV Liemba
allowing traders to travel together with their cargo.
Or containerization, allowing to ship smaller consignments safe and efficiently.
The Netherlands Government is committed to facilitate trade on Lake Tanganyika
and increase sustainable economic activities in the region.
The Netherlands closely collaborates with the
Zambian government and other local stakeholders.
Contributions to the rehabilitation and upgrade of Lake Tanganyika ports,
specifically at Mpulungu are currently assessed.
Collaboration is facilitated by the Zambia-Netherlands Maritime Platform.
The Dutch are also exploring means to establish a strong private sector in the economic
hinterland around Mpulungu port to support future users of the infrastructure
Investments in agricultural development will improve food security in an unstable region.
This will create opportunities for communities around the lake
strengthen trade, and enhance the resilience of a fragile region.