Zambia has officially begun the massive $1.4 billion reconstruction of the Tanzania–Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) line, marking the start of one of the region’s largest transport infrastructure upgrades in decades. The launch coincided with the historic visit of China’s Premier Li Qiang – the first by a Chinese premier to Zambia in nearly 30 years.
President Hakainde Hichilema flagged off the rehabilitation works in Lusaka, joined by Premier Li and Tanzania’s Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi. The groundbreaking follows a trilateral agreement reached last September between Zambia, Tanzania, and China to modernize the historic railway originally built in the 1970s under Mao-era financing.
Premier Li emphasized that the reconstruction marks a major new phase for the iconic line. “The TAZARA railway is a signature project of China–Africa cooperation,” he said, noting that China is committed to working with both nations to inject new strength into the railway and expand its role in regional economic development.
Stretching 1,860 kilometres, the TAZARA line has suffered decades of deterioration, reducing operations to a fraction of its intended capacity. The new reconstruction program will upgrade tracks, modernize infrastructure, and restore the line’s ability to move high cargo volumes.
Once complete, the rehabilitated railway will significantly decongest regional border posts – where most cargo currently relies on slow and overloaded road networks – and support rising copper exports from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The upgraded corridor will also heighten competition with the US and EU-backed Lobito Corridor, which connects the same mineral-rich region to an Atlantic port.
Beyond TAZARA, East African nations are simultaneously pushing ahead with joint plans for a regional Standard Gauge Railway to further unlock cross-border trade and industrial integration.
