Tanzania is making a bold move to revive its aging railway network, striking a $1.4 billion deal with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to modernize and manage the historic Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) line. The agreement, structured as a 30-year concession, marks one of the most ambitious foreign investments in the country’s transport sector, fueling hopes that the struggling railway can be transformed into a major regional trade artery.
For decades, the TAZARA railway has been more of a nostalgic relic than a functional asset. Originally constructed in the 1970s with Chinese assistance, the 1,860-kilometer line was a Cold War-era symbol of African-Asian cooperation, providing landlocked Zambia with a crucial export route to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. At the time, it was one of the largest infrastructure projects China had undertaken abroad, meant to help Zambia reduce its reliance on apartheid-era South Africa. But in the decades that followed, poor management, limited investment, and operational inefficiencies eroded the railway’s reliability. Freight volumes dwindled, passenger services became sporadic, and what was once an economic lifeline turned into a struggling, underutilized asset.
Now, Tanzania is hoping for a fresh start. The deal with CCECC aims to restore TAZARA’s lost glory by overhauling its infrastructure, replacing dilapidated tracks, and introducing modern locomotives equipped with advanced technology. One of the key focuses will be upgrading the railway’s outdated signaling and communication systems, allowing for better coordination and safer operations. Officials believe that once fully modernized, the railway will be able to compete with road transport, offering businesses a more reliable and cost-effective way to move goods across borders.
Government officials are touting the project as a major economic boost. “This investment will make Tanzania a key player in regional logistics,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Transport. “A modernized TAZARA means faster trade routes, lower costs, and new opportunities for businesses across East and Southern Africa.”
The railway’s revival is expected to have a ripple effect across multiple industries, particularly agriculture and mining. With a more efficient transport system in place, Tanzanian and Zambian exporters could see significant reductions in logistics costs, making their goods more competitive in international markets. The railway could also attract new investment into Tanzania’s transport sector, positioning the country as a strategic gateway for landlocked neighbors like Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
However, the deal is not without its skeptics. Some analysts caution that Tanzania must ensure the agreement does not lead to excessive financial dependency on China, a concern that has surfaced in similar infrastructure projects across Africa. China’s involvement in African railways, ports, and highways has been met with both praise and criticism, with some governments struggling to manage the long-term financial commitments tied to Chinese-funded projects. While the CCECC agreement is structured as a concession rather than a loan, meaning China will operate and maintain the railway rather than just finance it, some experts argue that Tanzania must maintain oversight to ensure the deal remains beneficial in the long run.
Another challenge lies in maintaining efficiency after the upgrades are completed. Many large-scale railway projects in Africa have struggled to remain profitable due to governance issues, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and mismanagement. If TAZARA is to become a reliable transport corridor, it will require strong operational oversight, well-trained staff, and a clear strategy for long-term sustainability.
Despite these concerns, there is a sense of optimism surrounding the project. TAZARA has long been seen as an underperforming asset with untapped potential, and if the modernization efforts succeed, it could change the economic landscape of the region. The railway’s revival could reduce congestion on roads, lower emissions from freight transport, and provide a safer alternative to trucking, which is often plagued by accidents and delays.
For Tanzania, this is more than just a railway project—it is a statement about the country’s ambitions on the global stage. By investing in its infrastructure and strengthening trade links with its neighbors, Tanzania is signaling its readiness to play a bigger role in regional and international commerce. The coming years will determine whether this partnership with CCECC is the breakthrough that TAZARA has long needed or just another chapter in the railway’s turbulent history.
For now, still, Tanzania is moving full steam ahead, placing its trust—and its tracks—in the hands of China once again.
