Dar es Salaam. In the annals of Africa's diplomatic history, the Tazara railway stands tall as a testament to the enduring bonds between nations.
From its inception as a symbol of Sino-African friendship to its potential redefinition of regional trade dynamics, Tanzania's strategic vision for the Tazara route holds immense promise.
When President Julius Nyerere visited Mao’s China in 1965, the two leaders discussed the proposed railway connecting Tanzania and Zambia.
In the meeting, Mao asked Nyerere whether the railway would help the struggle for the liberation of Africa. When Nyerere responded affirmatively, Mao declared that “the railway will be built”.
That is how fast the Tazara business was concluded then. On September 5, 1967, an Agreement for the construction of Tazara was concluded in Beijing, China, between the three governments of China, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Construction of the 1,860 kilometre-long railway was completed in two years in 1975, ahead of schedule despite engineering challenges mainly posed by the topography and the heavy rains.
This rail would play a critical role in the economic growth of the two countries and the liberation efforts in Southern Africa.
However, as corridors of power in Southern Africa underwent a seismic shift, the path to realising this vision became fraught with challenges and uncertainties.
A subtle yet significant shift was underway, prompted by a strategic reassessment in the face of regional tensions and economic dependencies.
A declassified CIA memorandum from 1986, published in 2013, sheds light on the evolving dynamics, suggesting that the Frontline States, long reliant on South African-controlled shipping routes, were contemplating a pivot towards Tanzania and its port of Dar es Salaam, coupled with the Chinese-constructed Tazara railway.
Amidst the spectra of South African regional countermeasures, the Frontline States found themselves at a crossroads, seeking alternatives to reduce their vulnerability to external pressure.
Tanzania emerged as a promising option, offering a potential escape from the grip of South African dominance over regional trade routes.
However, the memorandum then painted a sobering picture of Tanzania's infrastructure challenges, casting doubts on its capacity to accommodate the anticipated surge in traffic.
Despite the injection of funds from Western donors aimed at bolstering Tanzania's transportation systems, the memorandum cautioned that the country's rudimentary infrastructure and bureaucratic hurdles could hamper efforts to expedite goods through its territory.
Government red tape and an unwieldy bureaucracy threatened to stifle private ventures aimed at improving conditions, while the state of the Tazara railway posed a significant obstacle to efficient transportation along the Northern Corridor route.
“Government red tape will discourage private ventures to improve conditions, and the unwieldy bureaucracy is unlikely to be able to cope with the increased demands on its resources,” reads the CIA memo.
Moreover, the memorandum highlighted the deteriorated and congested state of port facilities at Dar es Salaam, exacerbating concerns about Tanzania's readiness to absorb increased traffic.
The country's struggles to maintain basic services, such as electricity, and the dearth of handling and shipping companies further compounded the challenges posed by the envisioned influx of goods.
Amidst these obstacles, the then President Mwinyi began to adopt a more conciliatory approach towards his neighbours, recognising the potential benefits of positioning Dar es Salaam as a viable alternative to South African-controlled ports.
However, the road ahead remained fraught with uncertainties, requiring concerted efforts to overcome the systemic deficiencies hindering Tanzania's capacity to serve as a reliable transit hub.
As the Frontline States weighed their options and navigated the complexities of regional geopolitics, the prospect of a shift towards Tanzania and the Tazara route loomed large on the horizon.
Whether this envisioned transition would materialize into a tangible strategic advantage remained to be seen, contingent upon Tanzania's ability to address its infrastructure shortcomings and fulfill its potential as a gateway to Southern Africa.
