The governments of Tanzania and Zambia have committed to accelerating the development of mining transport infrastructure to boost growth in the Southern African mining sector.
This commitment was emphasized on March 25, 2026, by Deputy Minister of Minerals, Dr. Steven Kiruswa, during the opening of the 13th Zambia International Mining and Energy Conference (ZIMEC 2026) held in Kitwe.
Dr. Kiruswa stated that the TAZARA railway improvement project will provide a long-term solution to reduce the cost of transporting copper and cobalt from Zambia to global markets via the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
He further explained that the upgrades to the TAZARA railway will facilitate timely and cost-effective transportation of copper and cobalt, enabling faster access to markets.
Earlier, during the conference opening, Zambia’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Development, Paul Kabuswe, urged investors to take advantage of the policy improvements being made by the two countries to invest in mineral value-addition industries (smelters and refineries) within the region, rather than exporting raw minerals.
The ZIMEC conference is expected to conclude today, March 26, 2026, with a joint resolution emphasizing regional cooperation in environmental protection and ensuring that the citizens of both countries benefit from their natural resources.
