On Wednesday, an initial agreement was signed between Tanzania, Zambia, and China aimed at rehabilitating the long-established Tazara railway, a significant venture designed to enhance rail and maritime transportation in East Africa’s resource-rich regions. This ceremony took place in Beijing during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with notable attendance from Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.

The specific financial details of the rehabilitation project remain undisclosed, although preliminary discussions suggested a substantial investment of $1 billion proposed by China earlier this year. This investment is intended to be executed through a public-private partnership model for the refurbishment of the 1,860-kilometre Tazara railway, which was initially constructed between 1970 and 1975 with Chinese financing. This vital railway connects Zambia’s Kapiri Mposhi with the Dar es Salaam Port, effectively breaking landlocked Zambia’s reliance on transit routes through Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa during their rule by white-minority governments. Inaugurated for commercial operations in 1976, the Tazara railway has historically been recognized for providing an essential trade route for Zambia’s Copperbelt exports to the sea.

During the summit, President Xi expressed China’s commitment to revitalizing the Tazara railway, enhancing rail-sea intermodal transport networks throughout East Africa, and establishing Tanzania as a model for high-quality cooperation within the framework of the China-Africa Belt and Road Initiative. Following the summit, the World Bank’s recent allocation of $270 million was recognized as a significant step toward improving connectivity between Tanzania and Zambia, thereby fostering regional trade growth.

President Hassan and President Xi subsequently engaged in further discussions, emphasizing the continuation of robust bilateral relations, particularly through investment in infrastructure projects aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative. The Tanzanian leader extended an invitation for Chinese private sector investments in alternative energy and transmission infrastructure, underscoring the mutual benefits this collaboration could yield for Tanzanian citizens.

At the summit, President Xi reaffirmed China’s readiness to deepen strategic relations with Tanzania to generate beneficial outcomes for both nations. Furthermore, President Hassan expressed her optimism that the FOCAC platform would yield impactful advancements in fostering cooperation between China and Africa, particularly in areas such as factory construction and modernization of agricultural practices.

Tanzania’s ambassador to China, Mr. Khamis Mussa Omar, reinforced this sentiment during a recent interview, highlighting China’s status as Tanzania’s primary trading and investment partner. The diplomatic history between Tanzania and China dates back to the 1960s, evolving significantly, with the 2022 agreement between Presidents Hassan and Xi to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership signaling continued cooperation and commitment toward mutual development.

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