The Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Emmanuel John Nchimbi, joined Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and China’s Premier Li Qiang on Thursday to lay the foundation stone for the rehabilitation of the historic TAZARA Railway in Zambia.
Dr. Nchimbi, who represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan, said the project will significantly strengthen the Southern Corridor and stimulate trade across Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, and the African continent at large.
He noted that if the founding leaders of Tanzania, Zambia and China could build the “Uhuru Railway” in the 1970s, then today, given modern capabilities and resources, the three nations are well positioned to rehabilitate TAZARA and transform it into a 21st-century model of trilateral cooperation.
“This revitalization comes at a time when China is emerging as a major driver of global economic growth under its 15th Five-Year Development Plan. This positions China as a critical development partner,” Dr. Nchimbi said. “Today we have a new opportunity to link the Belt and Road Initiative with the SADC corridor, especially through the Benguela coastal route and Lobito on the Atlantic to Dar es Salaam.”
The 1,860-kilometer TAZARA Railway, 975 km in Tanzania and 885 km in Zambia, connects the Port of Dar es Salaam to New Kapiri-Mposhi using the Cape Gauge system (1,067 mm). Built with Chinese assistance in the 1970s, the line has faced operational challenges for decades.
Earlier this year, TAZARA CEO Bruno Ching’andu announced that China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) would invest $1.4 billion in rehabilitating the line. Under the 30-year concession, the first three years will focus on repairs, followed by 27 years of full commercial operation.
The investment includes extensive upgrades to the rail track, station facilities, communications systems, and the acquisition of new locomotives and passenger and freight wagons. Upon completion, freight capacity is expected to rise to 2.4 million tonnes annually, up from the current 100,000 tonnes.
For many years, Tanzania has served as Zambia’s primary gateway for imports and exports. In 2024 alone, Tanzanian ports handled approximately 2.2 million metric tonnes of Zambian cargo, while the DRC led all countries with 4.4 million metric tonnes of freight through Tanzania.
Dr. Nchimbi reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to port modernization, highlighting ongoing development at the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Bagamoyo, and Mtwara, in line with President Samia’s address at the opening of the 13th Parliament.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Hichilema emphasized that TAZARA represents far more than a transportation line.
“TAZARA is not just a railway—it is an economic corridor,” he said. “As trade volumes between Tanzania and Zambia increase, and with China also being a major trading partner, this project should be cherished even more.”
China’s Premier Li Qiang, in Zambia for an official visit following his participation in the 24th SCO Heads of Government Meeting in Moscow, stressed the importance of deepening cooperation and modernization.
“China stands ready to work with Zambia and Tanzania to take the revitalization of this railway as an opportunity to strengthen connectivity,” he said.
The rehabilitation of TAZARA is widely viewed as a landmark step toward enhancing regional integration, boosting Africa’s trade competitiveness, and strengthening China’s footprint in Africa.
