TRUCK DRIVING THROUGH DAR-ES-SALAAM; TRUCKS BEING UNLOADED; COPPER INGOTS ON GROUND; DOCKSIDE; CRANE LOADING COPPER ABROAD THE FREIGHTER "GERMIA"




Initials RM/VS/JH/GLH



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Background: REPRESENTATIVES OF ZAMBIA, TANZANIA AND THE CONGO TODAY (FRIDAY) CONTINUED TALKS IN KINSHASA, FORMERLY LEOPOLDVILLE, AIMED AT SETTLING EXPORT ROUTES FOR ZAMBIA'S COPPER. THE FIRST CONVOY OF TRUCKS WHICH HAS TAKEN OVER CARRYING ZAMBIAN COPPER SINCE A PAYMENTS DISPUTE WITH RHODESIAN RAILWAYS STOPPED RAIL SHIPMENTS, ARRIVED IN DAR-ES-SALAAM ON TUESDAY.

THE ROAD CONVOY IS BEING OPERATED BY THE RECENTLY FORMED ZAMBIA TANZANIA ROAD SERVICES CORPORATION. THE II TRUCKS IN THE FIRST CONVOY CARRYING 250 TONS OF COPPER TOOK SIX DAYS TO MAKE THE JOURNEY FROM ZAMBIA'S COPPER BELT. THE CORPORATION HAS ABOUT 140 TRUCKS ON THE ROUTE, AND ANTHER CONVOY OF 20 TRUCKS IS NOW ON IT'S WAY.

ZAMBIA IS SHIPPING ITS COPPER ABROAD FROM DAR-ES-SALAAM BECAUSE, COMPLETELY LAND-LOCKED, IT HAS NO PORTS OF ITS OWN. THE PRESENT TALKS IN KINSHASA CONCERN THE POSSIBILITY OF SHIPPING ZAMBIAN COPPER THROUGH RAILWAYS IN THE CONGO AND VIAL TANZANIA. ZAMBIA AND TANZANIA ARE ALSO CONSIDERING THE BUILDING OF A 1,000-MILE RAILWAY LINKING THEIR RAIL SYSTEM.