Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian
China, Tanzania, and Zambia have signed a memorandum of understanding to revitalize the 1,860-kilometer railway connecting Tanzania and Zambia, according to Xinhua news agency. This $1 billion initiative, proposed by Beijing in February, aims to enhance Zambia’s access to global markets. The railway stretches from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s port capital, to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia’s copper belt.
The agreement was formalized in Beijing, with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema witnessing the signing. Originally constructed between 1970 and 1975 with an interest-free loan from the Chinese government, the railway was a symbol of solidarity between China and the newly independent African states. Its primary economic goal was to facilitate Zambia’s copper and cobalt exports without transiting through colonial Rhodesia or apartheid-era South Africa.
The railway, Africa’s longest, fell into disrepair over time. The original construction saw the tragic loss of more than 160 workers, including 64 Chinese nationals, who died from bee stings. In December, it was announced that China Civil & Engineering and Construction, the original builder, would evaluate the feasibility of revitalizing the line.
Tanzanian and Zambian leaders attended the signing in conjunction with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), a triennial event that outlines the strategic framework for China-Africa relations. Previous FOCAC meetings have addressed topics such as industrialization, agricultural innovation, security, and projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
___