Dar es Salaam, 28 April 2026 — The concession of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) marks a major turning point in the railway’s history, with Managing Director and CEO, Bruno Ching’andu, describing it as a “game changer” that directly addresses the long-standing challenge of financing.
Speaking after the recently held Land-Linked Zambia Conference and Exhibition, Eng. Ching’andu said the key message presented at the forum was centred on TAZARA’s evolving role and enhanced capabilities within the Central Corridor.
He noted that while demand for rail services along the corridor has remained consistently strong, the railway has struggled over the years due to limited capital investment in infrastructure, locomotives, wagons, and modern operating systems.
“The concession is a game changer for TAZARA because it tackles the biggest constraint that has held the railway back — capital financing,” he said.
He explained that the concession model introduces a structured and phased approach to revitalisation. The first phase focuses on rehabilitating and strengthening core infrastructure, including the track, bridges, signalling systems, workshops, and key operating facilities.
This will be followed by the introduction of new and refurbished locomotives and wagons, supported by modern maintenance systems to ensure reliability and efficiency.
Eng. Ching’andu emphasised that full-scale operations will only commence after these critical constraints have been addressed, allowing the operator to begin from a position of strength rather than the current constrained state.
“This is not just about operating trains. It is about rebuilding the railway first, removing the bottlenecks, and then positioning TAZARA as a modern, reliable, and commercially viable transport corridor,” he said.
The concession is expected to significantly enhance TAZARA’s capacity, improve service reliability, and strengthen its role as a strategic trade corridor linking the Port of Dar es Salaam to Zambia and the wider Southern and Central African region.
About TAZARA
The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is a bi-national railway jointly owned by the Governments of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Zambia. Constructed between 1970 and 1976 with support from the People’s Republic of China, the railway—widely known as the “Uhuru Railway”—links the Port of Dar es Salaam to New Kapiri Mposhi, with onward connections to COMESA and SADC markets.
In 2026, TAZARA marks its 50th anniversary since commercial operations begun and it is undergoing a major transformation through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession model, following the signing of a Concession Agreement with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation on 29 September 2025.
Media Contacts:
Head Public Relations
Email: hpr@tazarasite.com
WhatsApp: +255 767803074 / +260 966803074
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