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Construction is expected to begin this year on an 830-kilometre railway linking Zambia’s Copperbelt to global markets through the North Western Province and onward to the Lobito port in neighbouring Angola, authorities have announced.
Jito Kayumba, Special Advisor to the President for Finance and Investment, said the project—spearheaded by the Africa Finance Corporation—marked a major step forward for Zambia and is targeted for completion in 2030.
In a statement posted on his social media handle, Kayumba noted that the railway would be the largest built in Zambia since the construction of the Tazara line in the 1970s.
He said the US$5 billion mega-project would be a “game changer” for the country and create jobs in construction, engineering, logistics and local supply chains.
“By connecting directly to the West Coast via Angola’s Lobito port, our copper and other value-added exports will reach international markets much faster and more efficiently, drastically reducing transport costs,” Kayumba wrote.
He added that a project of this scale was not only about mineral transport but also about opening the western corridor for wider trade, agriculture and cross-border commerce with Angola and the DRC.
Kayumba also highlighted international investment backing the corridor, saying the United States was injecting US$553 million to upgrade the Angolan stretch of the line, while China is investing US$1.2 billion to revitalise Zambia’s eastern Tazara route.
“This is a massive leap forward for our infrastructure and a proud moment for Zambia’s economic development,” he said.
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