Chinese-built TAZARA railway makes positive contributions to African development

The decades-old Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) railway line, built with Chinese assistance, has made significant contributions to the prosperity and development of Africa, according to local people.

The TAZARA railway, known as the "Uhuru Railway" or "Independent Railway," was constructed as a turnkey project between 1970 and 1975 through an interest-free loan from China. Commercial operations started in July 1976, covering 1,860 km from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.

Over its 49 years of operation, the railway has become a vital artery that ensures the economic operation and development of Tanzania, Zambia, and surrounding areas.

For many cross-border traders in Zambia who conduct their businesses between Zambia and Tanzania, the TAZARA trains are the most affordable means of transporting both goods and people.

"I've been using TAZARA since 1996, I'm still using TAZARA. It has advantages. It is cheaper. It is safe. You don't have to experience such (uncomfortable) things," said Vincent Chinyimba, a local passenger.

In addition to aiding in the construction of the railway line, the Chinese government's assistance also provided local residents with relevant professional skills and employment opportunities.

"I went to China and I was doing civil engineering, later engineering under the civil engineering department. We looked for many countries but China came up and offered to do it for us. It was like a miracle and it's a sign of friendship between Zambia and China," said Mathew Phiri, a retired maintenance engineer who worked on TAZARA.

The railway has made a positive contribution to the economic and trade development of both Tanzania and Zambia, as well as the greater African region.

However, due to its deteriorating infrastructure and aging system, the railway's passenger and freight train capacity has not yet met its intended levels, with urgent upgrades and renovations required.

At the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China, Tanzania, and Zambia reached a consensus on revitalizing the TAZARA railway.

"Today, TAZARA is facing a lot of challenges, of which again TAZARA needs to be revitalized and China has come back to help. It shows that China is well committed to assisting Africa in all," said Samuel Sholobela, head of commercial services at the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority.

Chinese-built TAZARA railway makes positive contributions to African development

Seventy-two hours after Cambodia and Thailand signed a joint ceasefire declaration, situations along parts of the shared border have stabilized, though the impact of the fighting remains lingering in the affected villages in Cambodia.

On December 27, Cambodia and Thailand signed a joint ceasefire statement at a special meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).

By midday on December 30, three days after the truce took effect, border villages on the Cambodian side showed no signs of renewed fighting.

Cambodia's National Road 58, which connects the border city of Poipet with nearby villages, was once a busy transport route but now sees only sparse traffic. Several villages along the road were heavily damaged during the conflict.

In Sela Khmer Village, small shops along the roadside remain closed, and this village of more than 2,000 residents was nearly empty.

Unexploded ordnance left behind during the fighting continues to pose a serious risk, requiring caution and protective measures for anyone moving through the area.

A local official said the border village was repeatedly shelled by Thai military forces during the 20-day conflict.

"The village still has no water and no electricity. It is very dangerous here, and no one dares to come to repair the facilities, so it is still uncertain when power will be restored," said Yern Pov, head of Sela Khmer Village.

As the situation calmed, some residents began returning from evacuation shelters. Near evening, a couple was seen making their way back to the village after spending 20 days at a shelter about 50 kilometers away.

"In the first two days of the conflict, we could hear the intermittent artillery shelling. Later, the shelling became more and more intense, and we had no choice but to evacuate. At the shelter, many people slept together on mats, and it was very crowded. Those who arrived later could hardly find a place to sleep," said Launh, a local resident.

Despite the ceasefire, large numbers of displaced people remain in shelters located dozens or more than 100 kilometers away from the border and are still unable to return home.

Local governments face mounting pressure to provide food and daily necessities, while charitable organizations have stepped up deliveries of relief supplies to affected populations.

Cambodia border villages remain deserted despite ceasefire implementation