Zambia investing in rail infrastructure

Zambia has a population of 19 million. With the election of a new president this year, investors are watching how the new government is managing its debt which will influence investor appetite. 

THE government of Zambia has a host of rail infrastructure projects in its pipeline as it broadens its transport links with its neighbours and potentially accesses their ports.

Under investigation are the $2 billion Chipate Serenje and the $11 billion Zambia-Zimbabwe-Mozambique lines. In comparison, the government has invested $1 billion on the Livingstone-Mulobezi, Livingstone-Kafue Bridge and Masuku-Choma railway upgrades. Work on the $259 million Kazungula Bridge upgrade is now also complete.

Currently in the design phase is $2.5 billion worth of projects in conjunction with the Northwest Rail Company and the Industrial Development Corporation (Zambia).

Various projects are linked to these investments, including the $300 million Jiangxi multi-facility economic zone developed by Jiangxi United Industrial Development and covering 600 hectares in Central Province.

Bidding for the main construction work has opened on the $550 million Kalulushi smart city mixed-use development; an initiative that will include a mall, healthcare and hospitality facility, office block, golf course, petrol station, adventure and 200 residential houses across 67 hectares.

The Lusaka-based Hillview Estate project is also in design. It will cover 370 hectares with 882 medium to high-residential units, commercial space, a three-star hotel, hospital, educational facilities and a police station.

Last is the $80 million Africa CDC Regional Collaborating Centre for Southern Africa that calls for a regional disease research centre in Zambia. The project is part of a programme to build five regional centres in Egypt, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia.

For more information on these projects or other transport investments in Africa, please contact us here.