Published : 2026-09-05

On 5 September, 1967, representatives from the governments of China, Tanzania, and Zambia held discussions in Beijing and subsequently signed the official agreement for China's aid in constructing the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (坦贊鐵路).

Also known as the "Railway of Freedom", the Tanzania-Zambia Railway stands as one of the largest projects that China has aided with overseas.

It was built by China Railway Construction Group Corporation and China Railway Group Limited with a total length of 1860.5 km. The railway starts from Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam, and ends in Kapiri Mposhi of Zambia.

The construction data of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway is quite astonishing. The entire route witnessed the construction of 320 bridges totalling a length of 16,520 metres, 22 tunnels collectively stretching up to 8,898 metres, and 93 stations. 

From exploration to completion, the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway took a long eight years. However, after the inauguration of the full line, the railway has made significant contributions to the socio-economic development of Tanzania and Zambia, as well as the national liberation in southern Africa.

To help build the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, the Chinese government provided an interest-free loan of 988 million RMB and shipped nearly one million tonnes of various types of equipment and materials.

China also dispatched close to 50,000 engineering technicians, with a peak of 16,000 Chinese employees on-site during the construction phase.

After the completion of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, it was jointly managed by the railway authorities composed of both Tanzanian and Zambian sides.

To ensure the normal operation of the railway, China continued to provide interest-free loans and technical cooperation assistance, with Chinese specialists and technicians involved in management or providing consultation.