China has signed a $1.4 billion agreement with Tanzania and Zambia to modernize the historic Tanzania–Zambia Railway (TAZARA), a vital transport corridor linking Zambia’s mineral-rich Copperbelt to the port of Dar es Salaam.
The upgrade will cover more than 1,100 miles of track and include the purchase of new locomotives, passenger coaches, and wagons. The project is designed to ease the transport of critical minerals such as copper and cobalt, strengthening regional trade and export capacity.
For China, the investment secures greater access to essential raw materials while reinforcing its influence in Africa’s infrastructure and mining sectors. The deal also positions TAZARA as a key rival to the Western-backed Lobito Corridor, which connects Angola to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Originally built with Chinese support in the 1970s, TAZARA has long faced challenges of underinvestment and deterioration. The new agreement aims to restore the line as a modern, reliable route that can support both freight and passenger demand, while boosting economic ties between the three nations.
The project highlights Africa’s growing importance in global supply chains, with major powers competing to secure transport routes that connect the continent’s vast mineral resources to international markets.
