An ambitious plan to revamp and extend the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (Tazara) to four other countries is on the agenda.
Government officials from Tanzania, China and Zambia discussed about the ailing infrastructure link that runs from Dar es Salaam to Kapiri- Mposhi in Zambia.
The meeting recommended major renovations to the old narrow gauge railway line and approve of plans to link Tazara to Tanzania’s multibillion-dollar Bagamoyo port, as well as to Malawi, DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.
The revamping and extension will be financed by China, although the cost of the project was not disclosed.
Southern Democratic Republic of Congo is already connected to Tazara through Zambia Railways, which is also a narrow gauge like Tazara.
“Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern DR Congo will be linked through the Seleka-Mpulungu section of Tazara in Zambia, where the construction study has already been completed and is only awaiting financing,” said Bruno Ching’andu, Tazara CEO.
Permanent Secretary in Zambia’s Ministry of Transport and Communications Misheck Lungu said experts decided Tazara should be changed from the narrow Cape gauge of 1,067mm width to the wider 1,435mm standard gauge, in line with other parts of Africa.
However, he said, the envisaged transformation is a long-term plan at the moment.
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