The Italian Government has committed $270 million towards the development of the Lobito Corridor, a major railway infrastructure project linking Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project aims to boost regional connectivity and accelerate economic integration through enhanced trade routes.
The announcement was made by Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) President Samaila Zubairu during a press briefing in Washington D.C., held alongside Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane and Angola’s Transport Minister Ricardo de Abreu.
In addition to the $270 million, Mr. Zubairu disclosed that the Italian Government has provided a further $50 million directly to AFC to support ongoing work on the corridor.
Mr. Zubairu noted that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has also pledged its support for the project, further enhancing the corridor’s credibility and appeal to both African and international investors. “The Lobito Corridor has attracted strong continental and external support, making it a highly promising partnership that will strengthen regional links and significantly boost intra-African trade,” he said.
Finance Minister Dr. Musokotwane highlighted the importance of the project for Zambia and the wider region, particularly in light of expanding mining activities in both Zambia and the DRC. “The Lobito Corridor will be instrumental in transporting critical minerals,” he said, adding that the railway line is expected to create jobs, facilitate regional integration, and stimulate economic development.
Dr. Musokotwane also expressed gratitude to the United States and the Trump administration for their support of the Lobito Corridor, emphasizing the strategic importance of the project in advancing Africa’s infrastructure goals.
The Lobito Corridor is part of a broader effort to improve trade infrastructure across Africa and position the continent as a competitive player in the global minerals supply chain.
Foreigners will fund the corridor, it is in their interest. Remember when our minerals are exported, the proceeds are spent by these foreign entities in their own countries, developing their countries, Zambia is left hanging dry. All that they leave in Zambia is a few crumbs of statutory obligations and low paying jobs in the mines, otherwise if the country was really benefitting in it’s immense rich and abundant
mineral resources , why do the people of Zambia continue wallowing in perpetual poverty?
Zambia has all it takes to do value additions from the minerals we have…
Lets stop lamenting like babies..work work and be innovative
For authorities to pledge such amounts,am sure they have done their due diligence and found the project viable
Dr Sixtus Mulenga is a practical example of an indigenous manganese mine owner and operator who is doing very well because he has quietly stayed away from politics.Bring him close and ask him how he did it.
All this interest in funding this LOBITO CORRIDOR project is to benefit FOREIGN WESTERN COUNTRIES. This is the insanity Captain Traore is fighting against… The West constantly looting Africa’s resources, while the African people are left holding empty bags with nothing to show for it.
When are Africans going to really benefit from their own resources? Why can’t we mine and process our own minerals, and sell them at a bigger profit ? When are we going to do things for ourselves?
Hello?
so comments are being monitored here?
That corridor may prove problamatic consdering tensions in the region
For authorities to pledge such amounts,am sure they have done their due diligence and found the project viable
This while thing is a bad idea. It will be owned and controlled by foreigners. The best model is for Zambia, DRC and Angola to jointly fund and own the assets. This is why we will never be free from foreign rule. And we have leaders busy boasting about it as if it’s some achievement. Anyway, some leaders are only good and selling our national assets to foreigners.
Your so called your assets need investments otherwise they will be of no value. You also need to have the ability to negotiate. Before talking too much first look at the deal that has been negotiated. If you are truly patriotic you should have asked what happened to Euro Bonds.
When are we going to commit our own FUNDS to such projects mwa bantu na muyanu shuwa!? It is either nkongole or some commitment whose motivations we don’t even know. Awe, we need to graduate from such actions mwe!? Aren’t we in the 21st Century already? Ask some of us who are already over the mid-21st Century, we will help.
Naysayers will always be in our midst. No too long ago, the same NEGAHOLICS were peddling that the new Trump admin would throw away the project because of Biden. I get some sense now that DT will support the same. We should not worry about future problems, but rather deal with those as and when they arise. For now, countries of Angola, DRC and Zambia need cooperating partners to get this project see light of day. This thing of investing in daily cries does not help in the large measure. Always crying!!!
Can some one assist me as to why the line closed down in the early 60’s
Civil war between Savimbi/S Africa and Neto later, Dos Santos
USA/SA-funded communist vs USSR/Cuba-backed communist, using tribal and racial lines. Which destroyed Angola up to now including destruction of railway bridges by UNITA. Also Zaire went off grid under USA-backed Mobutu, so the extensive railway system was not maintained. Mostly in the 1970s not 1960s
The mindset of President HH and Finance Minister Musokotwane is so anchored on foreign help…..the reason the UPND has performed below expectations. You can’t have meaningful development with such leadership mindset.
How else can you develop if you have a huge debt to service. At least they are doing something rather than drinking coffee tea and whisky and sitting idle.
Foreign aid in the forms of Chinese technical expertise,SA retailers or Swiss conglomerates has always been a curse to Zambia .You can’t have all the foreigners doing all the heavy lifting and think you’ll get ahead.
Who will pay if UNITA blows it up yet again. Sorry wrong thread
That possibility will always be there as we Africans never seem to get along amicably
some just dont like to hear all variables
Thxs for the answer
They will definitely fund it! Historically, even during colonialism, they invested in roads and railways solely to expropriate the ‘natives’ wealth. Still this project had the potential to be a win-win opportunity in today’s day and age. If Angola, DRC, and Zambia had united in their negotiation stance and demanded a minimum share of the minerals to be shipped out would be in the form of finished products, we could have greatly benefited.
Which Zambian engineer has manufactured a match- stick?
Why does the railway have to pass thru the God forbidden and ever troublesome DRC? That country has never known peace since mid 60s ,its a cursed country.