In a significant milestone for regional integration and economic growth, the Republic of Zambia and the Republic of Angola Governments have signed an Intergovernmental Agreement to seal their cooperation on the Lobito–Zambia Railway Project. The signing took place at the Land-Linked Zambia Conference in Lusaka and has been described as a turning point for infrastructure-led integration in Southern Africa. This strategic alliance lays the foundation for cooperation in the financing, construction, and operation of the 830-kilometre Luacano-Chingola railway line that links Angola to Zambia.
The railway project is a key component of the Lobito Corridor — a logistics platform of regional significance. It will provide a needed alternative route for the transportation of minerals, agriculture produce, and general cargo from the Atlantic Ocean to Zambia’s inland production nodes. The railroad will relieve the congestion on existing routes, reduce transport costs, and improve efficiency in regional supply chains. It will also be important to move individuals across borders, facilitating trade and advancing social and economic development in rural and urban areas.
The protocol was ratified by the Zambia Minister of Transport and Logistics, Honourable Frank Tayali and Angola’s Minister of Transport, Honourable Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu. The protocol is testimony to a shared commitment to a favourable environment for investment as well as long-term cooperation. Both ministers reaffirmed their governments’ commitment to the harmonised execution of the project through transparent institutional and legal frameworks. They further committed themselves to the promotion of regional value chains and the intensification of economic integration in Southern Africa.
Presidential support also emphasised the importance of the project. His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia was present at the ceremony, showing his government’s strong backing for the railway project. President Hichilema highlighted that the Lobito–Zambia Railway is not just a national project but also a regional one, with the power to drive transformation beyond borders. He noted its potential to support Zambia’s broader goals of job creation, industrialisation, and regional integration, as well as the continent’s broader development agenda.
The Lobito–Zambia Railway Project has already struck a chord among people and businesses on the continent and elsewhere. With proper policies in place and ongoing cooperation between the two countries, the project will be expected to spur investment, boost volumes of trade, and unlock new economic opportunities for businesses and communities along the corridor. The railway is also regarded as a move toward the realisation of the African Union’s vision of a more integrated and economically thriving Africa.
As the construction goes on for this ambitious venture, the agreement between Angola and Zambia is a powerful demonstration of how nations can come together to pursue collective prosperity. The Lobito–Zambia Railway is not just steel tracks and shipping containers — it’s about building stronger ties, unleashing growth potential, and paving the way for a more integrated future in Southern Africa.
