Hamis Shimye, the journalist from Tanzanian newspaper Uhuru, recently published an article titled “China's Cooperation with Africa in the Construction of the TAZARA Railway” in two Tanzanian newspapers, namely Uhuru and the Guardian. Below is the full text of the article.

China has maintained a high-level comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership with Africa. This robust relationship is rooted in China's significant contributions to the continent's infrastructure, including railways, highways, and aviation. China remains committed to sharing its development experience and supporting African nations in their pursuit of economic modernization. 

The construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) stands as a monument to China-Africa friendship. It vividly illustrates how bilateral cooperation has yielded productive results and fostered significant economic growth.

The TAZARA Railway is one of the largest transport projects in Africa built in international cooperation. The 1,860-kilometre railway connects the city of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.

Construction began in 1970 and was completed in 1975, China remained committed to the project, providing significant financial support of 406 million dollars, specialists as well as railway construction technology. The support facilitated the timely completion and economic growth of Tanzania and Zambia.

The act helped to make a significant contribution to the export of goods, trade development and economic development of the two countries as well as the entire East African Community (EAC) region.

China's Contribution to the Construction of TAZARA

China stood firm in difficult times for Tanzania and Zambia in the construction of railways. The Chinese government provided the loan that helped cover a large portion of the project that contributed to the pace of development. 

There are many reasons why China built the TAZARA Railway in those days, including helping Zambia sell copper, where at the time, it was facing a hurdle in doing its business due to apartheid-era regimes of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa. 

China decided to build a railway to support the liberation movement against the struggle against colonialism and apartheid where the nation supported African countries including Tanzania and Zambia to become economically self-reliant as well as strengthen its ties with the African continent.

Also, another factor is the promotion of African trade and development and that is why it stood at the forefront of developing the economy along the TAZARA Railway which is named one of the most strategic and economically promising railways.

The TAZARA Railway has facilitated the transportation of goods such as minerals, agricultural produce, and industrial products. It has also increased trade between Tanzania, Zambia, and other neighbouring countries, including those of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the EAC.

TAZARA is a railway owned by the Tanzania and Zambia Railway Authority being named as one of the strategic railways connecting the Port of Dar es Salaam and the town of New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.

TAZARA is an important transport link in the SADC region and the main transport route for goods from Zambia, especially copper as well as other countries including Malawi, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This railway allows goods from southern African countries to the Port of Dar es Salaam for international shipment without any hindrance. Copper and other important mineral products require fast and safe shipping routes to foreign markets.

The Port of Dar es Salaam is a major international gateway for goods from Zambia, Malawi, and other countries around the world, enabling TAZARA to be an important means of transporting commercial goods by rail is an excellent factor that helps reduce road damage to trucks. 

TAZARA offers an opportunity to attract investors from within and outside the Southern African region, especially the infrastructure, transportation, and trade sectors. Since this railway connects Tanzania and Zambia, making its presence easier for trade between those countries. 

Rail infrastructure is an important link to the national and regional economies, and TAZARA is an integral part of this infrastructure. This contributes to reducing transportation costs and providing a modern means of freight and passenger transportation.

TAZARA contributes to the promotion of regional tourism as it facilitates passenger transportation between major cities such as Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, Mbeya, and Kitwe, and other tourist attraction destinations in the Southern African region. 

Through this railway, tourists from different parts of the world can be motivated to visit the regional destinations of Southern Africa, and this contributes to boosting revenue from the tourism sector.

THR UHURU RAILWAY TAZARA

The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) is tasked with upgrading the TAZARA Railway, a new journey of success and reform of the railway in which China stands firm to help grow the economy of Tanzania and Zambia through the railway. 

The CCECC is tasked with improving and achieving reforms in the TAZARA rail sector, especially in light of the challenges that existed in its infrastructure and the regional economy.

CCECC Company is a large construction and engineering company owned by the Chinese government, and it has extensive experience in global infrastructure projects. This company is tasked with improving and carrying out the necessary reforms in the TAZARA Railway. 

The agreement reached between the Government of China and the Governments of Tanzania and Zambia includes the upgrading of railway infrastructure aimed at increasing the efficiency of freight and passenger transport between Tanzania and Zambia.

Construction of railway bridges that had been damaged, thus reducing transportation efficiency, restructuring of railway stations, improving railway stations, especially taking into account the availability of better passenger services and cargo safety.

The CCECC will carry out major railway reforms, including upgrading railway infrastructure, replacing embankments and culverts, and strengthening transport systems using new and modern technologies.

CCECC will also collaborate with the governments of Tanzania and Zambia in training railway workers. This involves training for engineers, train drivers, and infrastructure professionals to increase skills and productivity in the transportation sector.

CITIZENS APPLAUD TAZARA NEW CONTRACT

The CCECC contract has been touted as economically beneficial, and the public has commended the efforts of the Tanzanian and Zambian leaders in ensuring the railway returns and provides its services as before.

The governments of Tanzania and Zambia have signed a 30-year contract with CCECC worth $1.4 billion (3.7 trillion shillings) for infrastructure revitalization, procurement of new locomotives, and carriages.

The TAZARA Railway is 1,860 km long, passing through challenging geographical areas such as mountains and national parks, while for traders, it has an economic opportunity.

Agnees Temba, a Zambian resident, said she has been using the railway for more than 15 years in her businesses in Kasama, the capital of Zambia's Northern Province.

Agnees said: "I use the TAZARA train every time I go to Tanzania to buy goods. This is a completely affordable way for my travel, and it allows me to make even greater profits. The government's decision to improve it is a big positive step. "

Gerald Songo, said the TAZARA Railway was a great economic aid to the residents of the regions that have bypassed the railway like Morogoro especially the Ifakara area where they used to carry out their activities in large numbers.

“We believe the old TAZARA is reclaiming the spirit that used to bring us such satisfaction and sustain our lives.” We commend President Samia for the great work she is doing to bring about development," said Songo, who is a resident of Mlimba, Morogoro in Tanzania.

VISIT OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER TO TANZANIA

In January this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a visit to Tanzania where he stated that China-Tanzania relations were jointly forged by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries and strengthened through the joint efforts of several generations despite challenges.

He said that China and Tanzania should join hands to revitalize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and further enhance its role, making it a new engine for Tanzania's development, giving the country wings to fly, and delivering visible and tangible benefits to the local people. 

Minister Wang said that China always views its cooperation with Africa from the perspective of South-South cooperation featuring mutual support and assistance, and is willing to achieve common development with Africa and jointly build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

China and Tanzania welcomed the smooth commencement of the TAZARA Railway revitalization project and expressed their readiness to support its implementation, recently witnessed the laying of the foundation stone for its $1.4 billion renovation project to increase transportation efficiency.

PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA 

Zambian President Haikainde Hichilema speaking about the TAZARA Railway said "Both governments (Tanzania and Zambia) signed the framework of the TAZARA operating agreement, a step that paves the way for the signing and brings great success".

SPOKESPERSON TANZANIA 

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Arts and Sports, Greyson Msigwa who is also the Chief Government Spokesperson, said the new TAZARA agreement has the potential to be of great benefit to both countries, Tanzania and Zambia. 

He said the agreement is going to improve rail infrastructure, boost trade, increase employment, and strengthen regional cooperation. 

"This will be a unique milestone in boosting the nation's economy, social well-being, and increasing business and investment opportunities. The successful implementation of this agreement will require close collaboration between the government of Tanzania, Zambia, and the private sector."