In a vibrant ceremony in Lusaka on November 28, 2025, officials from the Chinese mainland, Zambia and Tanzania launched a major reboot of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) 🚆🌍. Known as the 'Freedom Railway', this line has long been a beacon of South-South solidarity, and it's gearing up for a high-tech upgrade.
More than just tracks
The railway is a daily lifeline. For many residents, it's an affordable and safer way to commute, send kids to school or reach clinics. At every stop you'll find local vendors, lively markets and repair shops—especially a hub for women traders bringing fresh produce and homemade meals to town.
Revival blueprint
Professor Wang Jinjie of Peking University highlights a two-phase plan:
- Activate: Replace sleepers and rails, fix bridges and tunnels.
- Develop: Boost freight capacity to 2 million tons a year and cut transit times by two-thirds.
This vision also includes a 'TAZARA Prosperity Belt'—logistics hubs, industrial parks, and a training center to build local skills and modernize management.
Connecting communities and markets
For Zambia, the new line means reliable copper exports and cheaper road upkeep. Regionally, landlocked nations like the DRC, Malawi and Zimbabwe get fresh access to the Indian Ocean via Dar es Salaam. And local clinics, demo farms, solar grids and water points will ensure that the benefits are felt where people live and work.
A fresh China–Africa template
TAZARA’s upgrade marks a shift from standalone projects to 'corridor thinking'—linking infrastructure, industry and communities. Lessons include shared risks, local hiring targets and a focus on transferring knowledge. As Professor Wang puts it, “The railway is just the channel that leads us to prosperity”—but only if it’s woven into broader development plans.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
