Tanzania’s Minister of Transport, Makame Mbarawa, has announced that talks between Tanzania and China regarding the operation of the TAZARA railway by Chinese companies are nearing conclusion and the government anticipates by the end of May 2024 a decision will be made.

Mbarawa disclosed this during the presentation of Tshs. 2.7 Trillion budget for his Ministry in the parliament on May 06, 2024.

On December 12, 2023, TAZARA management revealed that a team from the China Civil and Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) was dispatched to conduct a comprehensive business and technical inspection of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).

The inspection which was to be carried out from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Kapiri-Mposhi in Zambia is undertaken by a team of 11 individuals led by Mr. Peng Danyang, the Managing Director of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway in East Africa, which also operates under a public-private partnership model.

Constructed in 1976, the 1860-kilometer railway holds significant historical importance as a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy and relations with African nations. However, its commercial viability has declined over time, leading to deterioration.

Between July 2018 and June 2023, TAZARA handled 1.8 million tons of cargo. Tanzania is optimistic that a concession with Chinese companies will rejuvenate the railway, positioning it as the preferred choice for transporting cargo, particularly copper and other minerals from Zambia and neighboring countries.