The Tanzanian and Zambian Governments, Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) and China Civil and Engineering Construction Corporation Limited (CCECC) signedf an “Investment Framework Agreement” for the rehabilitation of the TAZARA on September 4, 2024.

The rehabilitation plan includes upgrading tracks, purchasing new locomotives, and increasing the railway’s capacity to shift heavy cargo from road transport to rail. The TAZARA Railway is expected to increase from the current 500,000 metric tonnes to approximately two million metric tonnes in terms of its operational capacity once the upgrades are complete. The project is estimated to take two years to complete and will quadruple the annual tonnage carried on the line.

The main objective of the agreement is to revitalize and improve the operational efficiency of the TAZARA by providing replacement of life expired material and equipment needed to meet traffic demands while conforming well to GRZ’s general transport strategy.