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President Hakainde Hichilema says Zambia, China and Tanzania will sign documents to mark the official commencement of the TAZARA revitalisation programme during the visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
President Hichilema said the TAZARA Corridor holds significant opportunities in mining, agriculture, energy and other sectors, and that modernising the rail line is essential to unlocking this potential.
He said this during a meeting with China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) Group Chairman Dai Hegen and his delegation at State House in Lusaka on Tuesday.
“TAZARA is more than a railway; it is an economic artery envisioned by our founding leaders—Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Chairman Mao, and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. Through strengthened cooperation, we aim to generate greater economic benefits from this shared project,” he said.
Hichilema noted that a developed TAZARA would create additional opportunities in mining, agriculture and other economic sectors along the corridor.
He called for strengthened cooperation between the two countries to fully exploit the resource endowments along the TAZARA Corridor, describing it as an economic corridor rather than just a transport route.
“There is a lot of value that we can generate. There are other things of value that we should be doing as the rehabilitation of the rail line commences,” Hichilema said.
He added that the dry port in Kapiri Mposhi is critical to Zambia’s economic agenda and will be among the key aspects addressed during the TAZARA rehabilitation.
Hichilema said the revitalisation of the Tanzania–Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) line would deliver far greater economic value than it has in previous years.
“As we are also working on the revitalisation of the Zambia Railways network, it means that there will be a connection between TAZARA and Zambia Railways,” he stated.
He further urged CRCC to prioritise investment in Zambia’s energy generation, noting that reliable power will be essential to maximise the benefits of the TAZARA Corridor and support Zambians.
“We also invite you to pay particular attention to the energy generation situation in Zambia. To support all this that we want to do, we want more electricity. We want to deepen our cooperation, working with CRCC and your associated businesses,” he said.
In response, Dai said Zambia remained one of CRCC’s most important overseas markets, with the company actively participating in the construction of railways, roads, water supply systems and other infrastructure in the country.
“Our connection and bond with Zambia began with the Tanzania Zambia Railway. As early as the 1970s, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRCC, undertook the design and construction of the worldly renowned Tanzania Zambia Railway,” he said.
Dai added that to date, CRCC has completed more than 20 projects in Zambia and over the years has created more than 6,000 jobs in the country.
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