CCTTFA’S Member State’s 12th Interstate Council of Ministers (ICM) Meeting took place on Friday June 16, 2023 at Kiriri Garden Hotel in Bujumbura, Burundi. In attendance were Hon. General Edward Wamala Katumba, Minister of Works and Transport of the Republic of Uganda and the outgoing Chairperson of the ICM. The Meeting was attended by Hon. Marie Chantal Nijimbere, Minister of Trade, Transport, Tourism and Industry of the Republic of Burundi and incoming Chairperson of the ICM, Hon, Seraphine Kilubu Kutuna, Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and Opening Up of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Hon, Patrice Uwase, Minister of State, Ministry of Infrastructure of the Republic of Rwanda, and Mr. Gabriel Migire, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport representing Hon. Prof. Mbarawa Makame Mnyaa Mbarawa, Minister of Works and Transport of the United Republic of Tanzania. Also, in attendance as an observer was Hon. Jacob Hara, Minister of Transport and Public Works of the Republic of Malawi.

   

Other participants included the CCTTFA Board of Directors, invited guests including Mr. Hastings J.K. Chiudzu, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Public Works Republic of Malawi and Mr. Stephen Mbewe representing Mr. Frederick Mwalusaka, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Republic of Zambia, CCTTFA Executive Secretary, CCTTFA Stakeholders, Development Partners, Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Public and Private Sector Institutions, CCTTFA Secretariat Staff and members of the Press.

   

The Council of Ministers:

  1. Noted and approved the 24th Annual Ordinary Meeting of the Executive Board of Directors including the; the Annual Implementation plan for financial year 2023/2024; Audit Report of the Secretariat of 2021/2022; Progress Report on the merging of Central and Dar Corridors whereby the Republic of Malawi and Republic of Zambia are in the process to accede CCTTFA as approved by the Board of Directors; took note of approved Concept Paper on the transformation of the Central Corridor to a Green Economic Development Corridor (GEDC) directing the Secretariat to mobilize more resources for the implementation of the transformation plan; and endorsed Secretariat 2023/2024 Business Plan and Budget.
  2. Commended efforts undertaken by Member States in spearheading transport and services and infrastructure development projects along the Central Corridor including maritime, road and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) projects to connect Dar port with Member States.
  3. Appreciated the efforts of all development partners and requested them to continue supporting Central Corridor projects.
  4. Appreciated coordination role played by CCTTFA Secretariat and guided it to continue monitoring of the implementation of the programme and report regularly.
  5. Took note of hand over between the outgoing Chairperson of the ICM Hon. General Edward Wamala Katumba, Minister of Works and Transport of the Republic of Uganda and incoming ICM Chairperson Hon. Marie Chantal Nijimbere, Minister of Trade, Transport, Tourism and Industry of the Republic of Burundi.
  6. Marie Chantal Nijimbere, Chairperson of ICM thanked her predecessor Hon. General Edward Wamala Katumba for his leadership and efforts undertaken in the implementation of the commitments and resolutions taken by the ICM and committed to continue with the same spirit and asked for support from all ICM members for continuity and development of the Central Corridor to better serve ordinary citizens of the Member States.