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Zambia has reaffirmed its strong support for the establishment of a regional shipping line and the development of a harmonised Maritime Cabotage Protocol for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa, describing the initiative as pivotal to transforming the continent’s logistics and trade landscape.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Fredrick Mwalusaka, said Africa stood at a defining moment in shaping its maritime and logistics future as it worked to build systems that reduce dependency on foreign shipping and improve competitiveness.
He made the remarks during the Stakeholders’ Workshop validating the Feasibility Study for the Establishment of Regional Shipping Line(s) and the Draft Regional Maritime Cabotage Protocol, held at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
Mwalusaka, who also serves as Chairperson of the Coordination Committee of the Maritime Organisation for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa (MOESNA), expressed gratitude to Kenya for hosting the workshop and commended MOESNA and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) for spearheading the technical work.
He noted that maritime transport carried more than 80 percent of global trade, yet Africa remained one of the least integrated regions in international shipping networks—an inefficiency that continues to expose its economies to high logistics costs and supply chain vulnerabilities.
“For countries such as Zambia, over-reliance on foreign-owned and foreign-flagged carriers has constrained the competitiveness of exporters and producers. This is why regional solutions are no longer optional but imperative,” Mwalusaka said.
He added that the proposed ESNA Regional Maritime Cabotage Protocol would create a structured legal regime designed to strengthen Africa’s participation in regional and coastal shipping, while aligning with international standards and accommodating the distinct needs of land-linked and island states.
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Mwalusaka stressed that improved maritime connectivity was essential to the success of transport corridors, dry ports, industrialisation programmes, and Africa’s ability to actively participate in regional and global value chains.
“A reliable and competitive regional shipping system will help reduce logistics costs, strengthen regional value chains, enhance supply chain predictability, promote maritime skills development, and build economic and political resilience, especially in periods of global volatility,” he said.
He further noted that the initiative reflected a shared commitment by participating states to move beyond policy pronouncements toward practical, infrastructure-supported, and commercially viable outcomes.
The Permanent Secretary urged delegates to rigorously validate the technical, legal, and economic soundness of the feasibility study and draft protocol, ensuring that implementation strategies align with each country’s realities and readiness.
“History will judge us not by the quality of our documents, but by our resolve to implement them,” he said, officially declaring the workshop open.
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