Hon. Museba Frank Tayali’s Vision for Regional Maritime Collaboration
The 3rd Assembly Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Maritime Affairs of the States in Eastern, Southern, and Northern Africa (MOESNA) concluded successfully, marking a significant transition in leadership.
Zambia has assumed the chairmanship of the newly rebranded organisation, with Hon. Museba Frank Tayali, the Zambian Minister of Transport and Logistics, taking over from Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala.
In his inaugural address as Chairman, Hon. Tayali welcomed the assembly of ministers and stakeholders, extending warm greetings from the Zambian government and its people.
He expressed gratitude to Kenya for hosting the event and praised Uganda for its leadership over the past two years, acknowledging the milestones achieved in advancing the maritime agenda.
Hon. Tayali highlighted the urgent need for regional collaboration to address the universal maritime challenges faced by African states. He stressed the importance of harmonising policies and practices and adopting common standards to develop the African maritime economy.
Noting that over 80% of international trade is moved by sea, with Africa accounting for more than 10% of this trade, Tayali underscored the need for Africa to gain more control over its maritime transportation.
“African states must start a conversation on how we can have more control in the transportation of our cargo,” Tayali stated. He pointed out the lack of African-owned sea vessels and called for increased regional collaboration to support maritime transportation.
MOESNA, according to Tayali, offers immense opportunities for structured engagements, driving regional maritime programmes, and pooling resources and ideas. He urged member states to prioritise their MOESNA membership and collaborate to mitigate rising shipping costs and improve maritime connectivity.
The assembly also saw the admission of Ethiopia as the 6th member state of MOESNA, with Hon. Tayali welcoming Ethiopia’s Honourable Minister Dr. Alemu Sime. Ethiopia brings valuable experience as a land-linked country with its own shipping vessels, which Tayali believes will enrich the organisation’s collective knowledge.
Hon. Tayali reiterated Zambia’s commitment to supporting MOESNA’s ideals and initiatives, aligning with President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive to enhance regional collaboration and unlock trade opportunities.
He also commended the MOESNA Secretariat for their work on domesticating marine cargo insurance, a move expected to retain over $62 million annually within the region.
In conclusion, Hon. Tayali thanked Kenya for hosting the assembly and praised the MOESNA Secretariat for their efforts in organising the event. He expressed optimism for fruitful deliberations and collaboration among member states to drive the African maritime sector forward.
