Zambia’s nine-year experiment with privatising the rail network in 2003 is being revived.In 2012 the government cancelled the Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) concession to operate freight and passenger trains from the Copperbelt to the Zimbabwean border.RSZ had failed to invest in the necessary infrastructure and rolling stock, with tonnage falling from 1 323 191 metric tons in 2004 to 690 793 metric tons in 2009.Rail has failed to recover from the loss and continues to underperform.This is despite expansion of the network, which includes around 900 kilometres of main lines connected by 2 000km of branch lines.In 2019, the Chipata-Mchinji connected Zambian rail to Malawi railway, which in turn is connected to the Mozambique network. Recognising that more needs to be done if Zambia is to achieve its export goals, transport minister Frank Tayali has invited the private sector to partner with the government in expanding the network.At present the two operators are the government-owned Zambia Railways and the Tanzania Zambia Railways (Tazara) line, owned jointly by Zambia and Tanzania.The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation has been appointed to carry out a feasibility study on reconstructing the 50-year-old line.Speaking at the Southern African Railways Association (Sara) Rail Conference and Exhibition in Johannesburg, Tayali said: “Zambia is accelerating efforts to ensure that the railway sector improves its efficiency and contributes to the movement of heavy and bulk cargo in the region, thereby preserving the road infrastructure.”According to Zambia Invest, opportunities for private-sector investment include: Join the existing Chingola line through Solwezi to the Angolan border at Jimbe through a 600km link. A 342km link to join the Kafue line to the Zimbabwe network through Ziwa, which is the shortest route to the Mozambican port of Beira. Construction of a 192km railway line linking Mpulungu Port to the Tazara line at Nseluka to facilitate exports and imports from the Great Lakes region to the sea ports on the Indian Ocean. Railway link with Namibia and Zambia: including partial rehabilitation of Mulobezi line along with feasibility study regarding spur construction between Katima Mulilo and Livingstone via Kazungula, connecting to Namibian railway system as part of the Livingstone-Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lusaka-Lubumbashi corridor.Legislation is being used to move 30% of freight onto rail. Early last month, both the Zambian and Tanzanian governments issued a joint communiqué to engage Chinese investors in the rehabilitation of the Tazara line.
