Training, control centres to drive TAZARA revitalisation
DAR ES SALAAM: AS part of efforts to modernise the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), Tanzania, Zambia and China have marked another milestone in the railway’s revitalisation with the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Training Centre and Operations Control Centre.
The projects are expected to strengthen railway operations and build the next generation of rail professionals.
The ceremony, held as TAZARA continues commemorating its 50th anniversary, brought together government leaders, diplomats, railway executives and representatives of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the company spearheading the revitalisation programme.
Speaking during the event on Friday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Prof Godius Kahyarara, described the training centre as a strategic investment in Tanzania’s growing railway sector and a key component in strengthening the country’s transport infrastructure.
“The railway sector is now more than transport; it is a very big sector. To do the right things, you must have the knowledge and knowhow of what to do, how to do it and where to do it,” Prof Kahyarara said.
He noted that the facility would provide specialised skills required by TAZARA, the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) and the expanding railway industry, while also supporting vocational education and future advanced railway training programmes.
Prof Kahyarara reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the TAZARA revitalisation agenda, describing the railway as a strategic transport corridor linking Southern Africa to the Port of Dar es Salaam.
“We cannot afford to lose this railway. It remains the heart of transportation when it comes to Southern Africa’s connectivity,” he said.
TAZARA Managing Director Bruno Ching’andu said the two facilities would address critical operational and human resource challenges facing the railway.
“Today’s ceremony is highly significant to TAZARA because the facilities whose construction we are launching address two critical requirements of a modern railway: Skilled people and operational control,” he said.
According to Mr Ching’andu, the Training Centre will provide technical, operational and managerial training while serving as a hub for technology transfer as new equipment is introduced under the revitalisation programme.
“The training centre will prepare the next generation of rail professionals to effectively run this railway,” he said.
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He added that the Operations Control Centre would modernise train movement management through improved coordination, monitoring and communication systems, enhancing safety, reliability and operational efficiency across the network.
Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian described the project as a clear demonstration of the enduring partnership among China, Tanzania and Zambia.
“The revitalisation of TAZARA reflects our shared commitment to development, connectivity and capacity building,” she said, adding that China would continue supporting infrastructure development and skills transfer to ensure sustainable railway operations.
CCECC Chairman Li Chongyang underscored the historical significance of the railway, describing it as a lasting symbol of China-Africa friendship.
“TAZARA stands as a monument to the friendship between China and Africa,” he said, noting that more than 50,000 Chinese engineers and technical personnel worked alongside Tanzanians and Zambians during its construction.
He said the revitalisation programme was born out of a shared commitment by the governments of China, Tanzania and Zambia to restore the railway’s strategic importance and economic vitality.
