China will construct a more than $2.5 billion railway network in the Southern African region, the Angolan news website Macauhub indicated.

According to information reported by the media, the Trans-Zambezi will, as its name indicates, create a railway network linking many countries along the Zambezi river, namely, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique.

Initiated by China Railway, the project will facilitate access to ports in Mozambique for Harare and Lusaka (as well as the Chinese companies operating in those two countries).

The first phase of this project consists of a 400 km railway between Shamva (Zimbabwe) and Moatize (Mozambique). An additional 900 km will be built later to reach Nacala port. Let’s note that more than 1700 km should also link Binga, at the Zimbabwean border, to Nacala port in Zambia.

Thanks to this project, like many others being realized in East Africa, the authorities in the countries involved (mainly the landlocked ones) expect to boost their regional and world trade.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou