Main Transport Networks in Eastern Africa
Transport - is the movement of people and good from one place to another The movement is made possible by established transport networks
The main transport network in Eastern Africa include.
Road
Railways
Air transport
Water
Pipeline
Road transport Network in Eastern Africa
Most of the Eastern Africa Road network is linked to the Great North Road.
Road transport is the most common form of transport in Eastern Africa.
The great North Road starts at Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan to Tunduma in Southern Tanzania
There are two major highways in Eastern Africa
a) The Trans-African Highway
Starts from Mombasa in Kenya passes through Uganda, Rwanda, DRC Congo, Cameroon and ends in Lagos in Nigeria.
b) The Great North Road
Starts from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt. It crosses Tnazania, South Sudan and Sudan.
Challenges facing Road Transport in Eastern Africa
Insecurity.
Road accidents
High cost of construction
Bad weather
Railway Transport
This is the movement of people and goods using the railway.
It is used in transporting bulky goods on land.
All countries in Eastern Africa have a railway line except Somalia.
The railway network in Eastern Africa was run down over the years due to poor maintenance, Kenya-Uganda and Tanzania were linked by one railway network called the East African Railways
Sudan and South Sudan were linked by railway network which runs from Wadi Halfa ti Wau. Ethiopia and Djibouti are linked by Ethiopia –Djibouti railway Somalia Rwanda and Burundi have no functioning railway network.
Challenges facing Railway Transport in Eastern Africa
High cost of construction
Different gauges
Insecurity
Air Transport Network in Eastern Africa
Air transport involves use of airplanes. They are used to transport people and goods.
It is the fastest.
It is used to transport perishable goods.
It operates on a strict timetable.
Water Transport
Water transport is used to transport people and goods to other countries and from other countries to Kenya.
The common means of water transport in Eastern Africa include
Boats
Canoes
Ferried
Water transport is divided into two:-
(i) Marine water transport
(ii) Inland water transport
The main marine water transport in Eastern Africa is the Indian Ocean
The main seaports are: -
Kenya- Mombasa
Tanzania- Dar es Salaam
Sudan Port Sudan along the Red Sea
Eritrea- Port Massawa along the Red Sea
Djibouti- Djibouti
Somalia- Mogadishu
The main inland water transport in Eastern Africa is L.Victoria.
Challenges facing Water Transport in Eastern Africa
Piracy
Bad weather (storms)
Accidents
Cable Transport
It is used in transporting electricity.
It is the fastest means of transport.
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport has been used in transporting water from one place to another.
Recently pipelines have been used to transport oil and petroleum in Eastern Africa.
The main pipelines in Eastern Africa are
Kenya pipeline- Runs from Mombasa to Nairobi then to Kisumu and Eldoret.
The Greator Nile Oil pipeline- in Sudan
The Gas Pipeline- from Ethiopia to Djibouti
The Crude Oil Pipeline- from Uganda to Tanzania
The Oil Pipeline- from Lamu in Kenya to South Sudan.
Challenges facing Transport in Eastern Africa
Attach from terrorists
Insecurity makes road transport difficult
Numerous cases of accidents makes roads unsafe for use
Lack of adequate capital to build new lines and expand existing ones
Oil siphoning (stealing)
Some railways are running on old locomotives
Inadequate capitals to build ports and harbours
Lack of modern facilities for loading and unloading of cargo
Poor management of airport resulting to huge losses and collapse
Oil spillage
Expensive to build and maintain
Solutions to the challenges facing transport Network in Eastern Africa
Developing additional road capacity to accommodate a large number of motorist, cyclist and pedestrians.
Promoting public transport system that moves a large number of people as opposed to private cars.
Establishing rapid rail transit system in urban.
Building of By-passes to decongest major roads.
Encouraging walking from one place to another instead of using private cars.
Transport Network in Economic Development
Create employment opportunities.
Make movement of goods and people faster.
Facilitate trade.
Facilitate international co- operation.
Communication in Eastern Africa
The common means of communication in Eastern Africa are; Electronic and printed
Electronic means include Mobile phones, internet, radio and television
Printed means include Newspapers, magazines, journals and letters.
Challenges facing Communication Networks in Eastern Africa
Lack of technical skills
Limited knowledge in the use of some means of communications
Destruction and theft of communication
Poor networks
Bad weather
Lack of capital to buy modern equipment.
Poor network coverage
Power black outs
Illiteracy
Lack of technical skills
Solutions to challenges facing communication Networks in Eastern Africa
Improvising security
Introducing computer studies in th education system
Training expert
Improving electricity and internet network coverage.
Allocating more funds in communication.
Teaching communication skills in schools.
Allocating funds to improvise communication networks
Roles of communication Network in Eastern Africa
Easy flow of information
Source of employment e.g radio station
Source of income for employed
Radio and television stations provide source of entertainment
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