Zambia President Hichilema Identifies Lobito Corridor as Key Driver of Trade and Investment Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has described the Lobito Corridor as a major opportunity to accelerate regional trade, investment and economic integration, calling for closer cooperation among Zambia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Speaking at the Second Lobito Corridor Coordination Meeting in Lusaka, Hichilema said the corridor should serve as a building block for connecting
Category: Southern Africa
USTDA Backs Power Study for Lobito Corridor in Zambia and DRC
USTDA Funds US$3 Million Power Study for Zambia-DRC Lobito Corridor The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has signed an agreement with Anzana Electric Group to fund a feasibility study aimed at improving electricity supply across Zambia’s North-Western Province and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Lualaba Province. The study will assess opportunities to expand hydropower generation, rehabilitate existing power assets and upgrade electricity distribution networks serving copper and cobalt
Zimbabwe Secures Funding for Chirundu Border Upgrade
Zimbabwe Secures US$66.8 Million Funding for Chirundu Border Upgrade with Zambia Zimbabwe has secured financing for the US$66.8 million modernisation of the Chirundu Border Post, paving the way for major construction works to begin in October 2026. The project, being implemented under a public-private partnership, is expected to modernise the border facility and improve the movement of freight and passengers between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Chirundu crossing is a key
Zambia Targets Rail Investment to Support Higher Production
Zambia Eyes TAZARA and Lobito Rail Upgrades to Move 3 Million Tonnes of Copper Zambia will need significant investment in railway infrastructure to support its ambitious production and export targets, Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has said. Musokotwane said the country could not rely on road transport alone to move the volumes of agricultural and mineral commodities it plans to produce. Zambia is targeting annual production of 10
Zimbabwe Seeks US$115M Afreximbank Facility to Upgrade Rail Network
Zimbabwe Targets US$115M Afreximbank Loan for 10 Locomotives and 315 Rail Wagons Zimbabwe’s state-owned National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is negotiating a US$115 million financing facility with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to expand its freight capacity and rehabilitate parts of its railway network. The proposed facility would fund the acquisition of 10 locomotives and 315 wagons, as well as repairs to sections of NRZ’s rail infrastructure, according to Mutapa
Botswana and Angola Target Trade Growth by Removing Cross-Border Transport Barriers
Boko, Lourenço Call for Stronger Botswana-Angola Trade Connectivity Botswana and Angola are seeking to strengthen trade and transport links between the two countries, with Presidents Duma Boko and João Lourenço highlighting the need to address existing constraints on the movement of goods. The issue was raised during President Boko’s three-day state visit to Angola in September, where the two countries discussed measures to deepen economic and commercial cooperation. Lourenço said
Lobito Corridor targets major freight increase as rail investment accelerates
Lobito Atlantic Railway targets 800,000 tonnes of cargo in 2027 after US$300 million investment Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) is targeting a doubling of international cargo volumes to about 800,000 tonnes in 2027 as new investment strengthens the rail infrastructure connecting Angola with the mineral-producing regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The railway operator expects to move about 400,000 tonnes of international cargo in 2026, with volumes projected to
Maersk Introduces R24,000 Import Surcharge Amid Rising Shipping Costs
Maersk Introduces R24,000 Import Surcharge as Shipping Costs Rise Maersk is introducing an additional R24,000 import surcharge on selected cargo as ongoing disruptions and rising operational costs continue to put pressure on global shipping. The new charge will increase the cost of importing affected shipments into the region, adding further pressure to businesses already facing elevated freight, logistics and supply-chain costs. The surcharge comes as shipping lines continue to navigate
Botswana Railways Partners with Ntokoto Holdings to Strengthen Mining and Logistics
Botswana Railways and Ntokoto Holdings Join Forces to Support Mining and Logistics Growth Botswana Railways has entered into a strategic partnership with Ntokoto Holdings to strengthen the country’s mining and logistics sectors and improve the movement of minerals and other commodities through Botswana’s rail network. The partnership is aimed at developing more efficient rail-based logistics solutions for the mining industry, with a particular focus on improving the transportation of bulk
Trans-Kalahari Corridor Emerges as a Strategic Trade Route for Southern Africa
Trans-Kalahari Corridor Strengthens Southern Africa Trade and Regional Connectivity The Trans-Kalahari Corridor is becoming increasingly important to Southern Africa’s regional trade and logistics network, providing a strategic route linking landlocked countries to international markets through the ports of Namibia. The corridor connects Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, stretching from the Namibian port of Walvis Bay through Botswana to South Africa. It provides an alternative route for the movement of cargo