Tanzania and Zambia to sign Tazara improvement agreement during FOCAC Summit

By Martha Chacha

Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, are poised to witness the signing of a pivotal agreement aimed at enhancing the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (Tazara).

The signing ceremony is set to take place during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which kicks off on Wednesday in Beijing.

President Hassan, who departed from Dar es Salaam on Monday for the three-day summit, will join several other African leaders in attending the high-profile event.

The agreement to be signed is expected to address critical infrastructure improvements for Tazara, a key rail link between the two nations.

According to a State House statement issued by Acting Director of Presidential Communications, Ms Sharifa Nyanga, President Hassan will also be among the heads of state delivering remarks at the FOCAC opening session, representing the East African region.

The summit will cover a broad range of topics including infrastructure development, industry growth, modern agriculture, and regional peace and security.

The FOCAC summit is being held against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical tension, with China seeking to solidify its strategic partnerships with African nations in the post-Covid era.

Key discussion points are expected to include climate change, energy, and digital technology, with a focus on bridging Africa’s digital divide.

In addition to the main summit, President Hassan is scheduled to meet with representatives from Chinese companies to discuss potential investments in Tanzania.

She will also hold bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping to further strengthen the longstanding relations between China and Tanzania, which have been robust for nearly six decades.

FOCAC has historically led to significant financial commitments for infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing projects across Africa, and this year’s summit is anticipated to continue that trend.

The 1,860-kilometer long Tazara was built from 1970 to 1975, financed by China. It links Zambia’s Kapiri Mposhi area with the Port of Dar es Salaam.

The railway line sought to eliminate landlocked Zambia's economic dependence on Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa, both of which were ruled by white-minority governments.

The railway provided the only route for bulk trade from Zambia's Copperbelt to reach the sea without having to transit white-ruled territories.