President Hakainde Hichilema has pledged to revive the long-struggling Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) through a $1.6 billion recapitalization program, presenting the project as a key pillar of his economic agenda as the country moves toward the next general election.
Speaking to a large crowd at the TAZARA Station in Kapiri Mposhi on Tuesday, Mr. Hichilema said his administration had already made significant progress toward securing the investment needed to modernize the railway and restore its operational capacity.
The President linked the project’s realization to the continuation of his administration, urging voters to return him and his United Party for National Development (UPND) to office.
TAZARA, built in the 1970s with Chinese support to provide Zambia with access to international markets through Tanzania, has long been regarded as a strategic asset. However, decades of underinvestment, aging infrastructure and operational challenges have significantly reduced its capacity, leaving many communities and workers dependent on promises of its revival.
Seeking to address concerns among employees, Mr. Hichilema assured workers that the recapitalization process would not result in widespread job losses.
“Only those who want to be retired will go; otherwise everyone will be brought back on board,” he said.
Beyond the railway itself, the President outlined plans to transform Kapiri Mposhi into a logistics and industrial center. He announced that the government had allocated $65 million toward the development of a dry port, a project intended to improve cargo handling and strengthen Zambia’s position as a regional trade hub.
Officials say the dry port, together with upgrades to railway workshops and related infrastructure, could create employment opportunities and stimulate economic activity in the district, which occupies a strategic location at the intersection of major transport routes.
Mr. Hichilema also promised progress on longstanding local concerns, including access to clean water and improvements to township roads. He said several roads in Kapiri Mposhi would be upgraded as part of the broader rehabilitation of the 327-kilometer Ndola-Lusaka corridor into a dual carriageway.
The President used the occasion to highlight what he described as the major accomplishments of his administration since taking office. He pointed to the expansion of the Constituency Development Fund, the implementation of free education, and the recruitment of public service workers as evidence of the government’s commitment to improving public services and expanding economic opportunities.
The rally also featured endorsements from local leaders and student representatives. David Banda, president of the Mulungushi University Students Union, praised the government’s education policies, including free education, student meal allowances and ongoing infrastructure projects at the university.
As campaigning gathers momentum, the future of TAZARA is emerging once again as both an economic and political issue. For supporters, the proposed recapitalization represents an opportunity to restore a vital transport corridor and unlock new investment. For critics, it is another major promise that will ultimately be judged by whether it translates into tangible results for workers, businesses and communities that have waited years for the railway’s revival.
