Bridges of prosperity

TAZARA continues to be top infrastructure draw for China in Africa

Though China has made several big strides in Africa since 1975, the success of its $500 million turnkey TAZARA Railway project, running from Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania continues to be a magnet for increased engagements.

The rail project, set up under the aegis of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority, connects landlocked Zambia with Tanzania and also serves as an alternative export route to destinations like Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. Aside from the transport links it provides, it is also an example of how Chinese investment has helped transform the lives and economies of Africans.

Though the project has been up and running for several decades now, Chinese engagement with it has not stopped. Chinese railway experts are now working with their African counterparts to unlock more commercial potential from the line by upgrading its capabilities and efficiency and also by boosting local employment.

Chinese railway experts based in Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, say projects connected to TAZARA, with support from Chinese partners, started at the beginning of last year, with a total investment of around 270 million yuan (34.8 million euros, $43.4 million).

Currently eight Chinese railway engineering experts are working with the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority in areas such as training, human resource management and guidance and counseling for technical projects, and Chinese investment is providing locomotives, shunting locomotives, cranes, rail cars, forklift and rail spare parts.

TAZARA was also the largest single foreign-aid project undertaken by China before China's reform and opening-up in 1978. The current engagements, however, are more with an eye on improving the transportation capabilities of the line, such as targeting transport of 715,000 tons of goods and more than 1 million passengers by the end of next year. Only 339,000 tons of products and 787,000 passengers used the line last year.

With the rise of TAZARA's transport capability, more railway service jobs are likely to be created, while regional economies will benefit from a better logistics system.

To give more impetus to the line's development, Chinese railway experts have been providing training in modern techniques to TAZARA employees at Tianjin Railway Technical and Vocational College. As many as 36 technical workers spent six months in Tianjin in 2011, while 36 technicians and six managers are scheduled to go to Tianjin for training next April.

The Dar es Salaam Station, which marks the beginning of the TAZARA line, sports a clean and efficient look that is reminiscent of the traditional railway stations in China before the advent of high-speed railway.

Many Chinese characteristics can be found in the African station, such as the Chinese designed locomotives named "The East is Red", and the "Made in the People's Republic of China" marks on the railroad.

Inside the waiting hall at the station, a series of photos from Xinhua News Agency record the contribution of Chinese people to building the railway.

Of the 69 Chinese technicians and engineers who are buried at the Chinese Expert Cemetery in Dar es Salaam, 51 worked for TAZARA. And thereby hangs the amazing tale of how despite hardship and tough conditions, a magnificent railway line was built.

The TAZARA was a project initially conceived by Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere and Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda. Both the leaders, however, failed to drum up the necessary financial support for the railway project from international financing agencies or other developed countries.

President Nyerere was able to convince Chinese leaders about the project's worth during a trip to China and thus the project took shape. China dispatched more than 50,000 engineers and technicians, over the six years it took to complete the project, also called Uhuru Railway, symbolizing freedom and friendship.

"Because of the special relationship, the great friendship between China and TAZARA, our Chinese expert team has received tremendous support in Tanzania and Zambia," says Miao Zhong, the team leader of the Chinese railway expert coordinated team.

"We hope the railway line can be more than just a symbol of friendship, and have more meaningful contributions to local economic development in the future."

zhaoyanrong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/22/2013 page18)