Mpulungu Port Set for Upgrade

The government has announced plans to upgrade Mpulungu Port to bring it in line with regional standards, as the country looks to capitalise on growing demand for goods and services across the Great Lakes region.

Transport and Logistics Permanent Secretary Fredrick Mwalusaka made the announcement at a regional validation workshop on transport legislation and port procedures for Lake Tanganyika, saying Mpulungu presents a significant opportunity for Africa to strengthen intra-continental trade.

The upgrade plan targets a boost in cargo handling from 200,000 to around 800,000 metric tonnes annually, with passenger capacity also set to grow substantially by 2030.

The railway link is also on the table. Burundi Maritime and Port Authority Director General Godelieve Nininahazwe welcomed Zambia's consideration of a greenfield railway connecting the TAZARA line to Mpulungu, noting that a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise the link was signed during Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye's recent visit to Lusaka.

Mpulungu sits at the crossroads of corridors connecting Zambia, the DRC, Tanzania and Burundi, giving it strategic value for regional trade.