China, Tanzania and Zambia Launch Major Overhaul of Tanzania-Zambia Railway
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the TAZARA revitalization project in Lusaka together with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango on Nov. 20, 2025. Photo: Yao Dawei/Xinhua
A project to revitalize the historic Tanzania–Zambia Railway (TAZARA) has officially begun, with a Chinese state-owned enterprise set to overhaul the line and significantly boost its freight capacity.
A commencement ceremony for the upgrade was held Thursday in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. On Friday, China, Tanzania, and Zambia issued a joint statement announcing the creation of a “TAZARA prosperity belt” and committing to the railway’s redevelopment.
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- China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. will invest $1.4 billion to upgrade the 1,860.5 km TAZARA railway, raising freight capacity from 200,000 to 2.4 million tons and creating over 20,000 jobs.
- The 30-year concession involves infrastructure upgrades, new industrial zones, and better regional trade links.
- Agreements were signed in 2024–2025 after 17 rounds of negotiations; the project preserves passenger services and modernizes the corridor.
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Who’s Who
- China Civil Engineering Construction Corp.
- China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. (CCECC) is a subsidiary of state-run China Railway Construction Corp. Ltd. (CRCC). It will manage the revitalization of the Tanzania–Zambia Railway (TAZARA). CCECC's predecessor oversaw the original construction of the line. CCECC plans to invest $1.4 billion to upgrade the railway for a 30-year concession.
- China Railway Construction Corp. Ltd.
- China Railway Construction Corp. Ltd. (CRCC) is a state-run Chinese enterprise whose subsidiary, China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. (CCECC), is managing the revitalization of the Tanzania–Zambia Railway (TAZARA). CRCC expects the upgrade to increase the railway's annual freight capacity significantly and create thousands of jobs.
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What Happened When
- 1976：
- The original construction of the TAZARA railway was handed over to Tanzania and Zambia.
- September 4, 2024：
- The three countries signed a memorandum of understanding at the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation in Beijing.
- March 2025：
- Bloomberg reported that CCECC would invest $1.4 billion to upgrade the railway in exchange for a 30-year concession.
- 2025：
- The TAZARA revitalization project officially began, involving the replacement of all rail sleepers and 390 kilometers of steel rails, and repairs to bridges, power, and communication systems.
- September 29, 2025：
- The three countries signed a concession agreement and a government support agreement in Beijing after 17 rounds of negotiations.
- November 20, 2025：
- A commencement ceremony for the TAZARA upgrade project was held in Lusaka, Zambia.
- November 21, 2025：
- China, Tanzania, and Zambia issued a joint statement in Lusaka announcing the creation of a 'TAZARA prosperity belt' and commitment to the railway’s redevelopment.
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