The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) signed a 30-year concession agreement with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), marking a transformative step toward revitalising one of Southern Africa's most strategic railway corridors. The agreement is expected to triple the railway's freight handling capacity and support the region's ambitions for greener, more efficient trade routes.

The 1,860-kilometre railway, initially constructed in the 1970s with Chinese assistance, links the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. It has long served as a vital transit route for cargo and passengers, particularly for Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) mineral exports.

Freight and Infrastructure Expansion
According to Xinhua News Agency and local government releases, the upgrade aims to boost annual freight capacity from the current 400,000 metric tons to 1.2 million metric tons in the first year of operations under CCECC. By the fourth year, projections suggest volumes may rise to 2.4 million metric tons. TAZARA currently serves around 450,000 passengers annually and will continue to operate passenger services under the agreement.

CCECC's role will encompass full-scale rehabilitation of the rail infrastructure, upgrades to communication systems, procurement of modern locomotives and carriages, and modernisation of maintenance workshops.

"The project is not just about restoring infrastructure," said Bruno Ching'andu, Managing Director of TAZARA, as reported by The Citizen Tanzania. "It is about redefining regional logistics, increasing capacity, improving cost efficiency, and empowering our local workforce through skills transfer and technology sharing."

Strategic and Environmental Impact
The renewed railway is expected to significantly reduce transit times between Zambia and the Tanzanian coast, offering a viable alternative to overburdened road networks. This, in turn, is anticipated to lower transportation costs for bulk goods and contribute to reduced carbon emissions—key to regional green transport strategies endorsed by the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Experts say the upgrade aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals by improving cross-border infrastructure and trade facilitation.

"This concession reflects not only a deepening of Tanzania–Zambia cooperation but also a continuation of China's long-standing engagement in African infrastructure development," noted a spokesperson from the Zambian Ministry of Transport and Logistics in an official release.

Timeline and Local Benefits
The agreement includes a three-year construction and rehabilitation period, followed by 27 years of operations and maintenance by CCECC. TAZARA will retain ownership of the railway infrastructure and oversee regulatory functions. A clause in the agreement ensures long-term local capacity-building through training programs and technology transfer.

The project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across both countries and improve logistics for key sectors such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing.
A Vision for the Future

TAZARA envisions the revitalised railway as a self-sustaining, high-capacity operator that supports regional industrialisation goals and enhances Africa's transition toward greener and more integrated transport systems. The initiative is also seen as a flagship example of South–South cooperation, strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between China and African nations.

For further official updates, refer to the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority and Ministry of Transport portals, or coverage by state-owned outlets such as Xinhua, The Citizen Tanzania, and Zambia Daily Mail.