Zambia, China, Tanzania Sign US$1.4bn TAZARA Revival Deal

Zambia, China and Tanzania have signed agreements worth US$1.4 billion to revitalise the TAZARA railway line after more than 18 months of negotiations.

The project will rehabilitate the track from Dar-es-Salaam to New Kapiri Mposhi, including major workshops and maintenance facilities. It also includes the purchase of 34 new locomotives, 16 passenger coaches and 760 wagons.

Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali said the total cost breaks down to US$1.1 billion in initial investment and US$238 million in re-investments.

In a statement issued by the ministry's principal public relations officer Ernest Chanda, Mr Tayali said the revitalisation is not just about restoring a railway line but reigniting a vision of regional integration, economic growth and shared prosperity. He said the project is about giving farmers, traders and industries a lifeline that connects them to markets across borders and beyond.

The TAZARA railway has been a critical transport corridor linking landlocked Zambia to the Tanzanian port of Dar-es-Salaam since its construction in the 1970s. However, years of underinvestment and deteriorating infrastructure have severely limited its capacity and reliability.

The revitalisation is expected to boost trade, reduce transport costs and improve regional connectivity, benefiting businesses and communities along the route. The project represents one of the largest infrastructure investments in the region in recent years.