Although 2024 presented its share of challenges, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) recorded significant progress and renewed hope. Under the guidance of the Tanzanian and Zambian Heads of State, the revitalisation process initiated earlier in 2024 has continued to gain momentum.
“With the oversight of the TAZARA Council of Ministers, we are pleased to report significant advancements towards transforming TAZARA into a more efficient and reliable provider of railway services along the Dar es Salaam corridor,” a recent media release stated.
Key Revitalisation Milestones Achieved in 2024:
- Comprehensive infrastructure assessments were completed, enabling prioritisation and planning for essential upgrades.
- Feasibility studies were successfully concluded by prospective Public-Private
- Partnership (PPP) partners and investors, laying the foundation for well-informed concession negotiations.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by key stakeholders to advance the revitalisation process.
- Negotiations for a Concession Agreement with a consortium of Chinese investors, led by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC)—the company that originally constructed TAZARA between 1970 and 1975—progressed to an advanced stage.
TAZARA remains confident that the transformative Concession Agreement with Chinese investors will be finalised in early 2025, paving the way to swiftly unlock the full potential of the revitalisation efforts.
The organisation’s vision is clear: to re-establish TAZARA as a model of efficiency and reliability, a beacon of regional integration, and a catalyst for economic growth within SADC. This aligns with its aspiration to become the most preferred transport organisation in the sub-region.
