TAZARA: Suspension of all train operations until further notice!

We just received the following press statement from the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA):

Suspension of all train operations

Dar es Salaam, Monday 12 January 2015 – Following the withdrawal of labour by unionized employees of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), we regret to announce the suspension of all train operations between Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia, from Monday 12 January 2015 until further notice.
As a result of the longstanding operational challenges that have seen TAZARA operating at a loss for more than ten years now, losses that have now reached a crisis level, the Authority has been unable to meet most operational costs, the bulk of which include expenses for running spares for locomotives and rolling stock, fuel and salaries for employees.
In the last few months, the Management had appealed to the employees to exercise further patience whilst long-term sustainable solutions were being sought in conjunction with the Shareholders in order to end the perennial operational challenges.
However, on Monday 12 January, the employees in both regions of Tanzania and Zambia communicated to the Authority that they would no longer wait for the promised solutions and opted to down tools to press for the immediate payment of the unpaid salaries covering the last five months.
TAZARA has since requested the two shareholders to provide further guidance on the matter.
In the meantime, all stations have been instructed to refund intending passengers who were booked to travel on our passenger trains this week.
The inconveniences caused to TAZARA's clients and passengers are deeply regretted.