Dar es Salaam/Lusaka, 7 July 2026 – The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) today held memorial ceremonies in Tanzania and Zambia to honour the Chinese experts and workers who lost their lives during the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, as part of the TAZARA@50 Golden Jubilee commemorations under the theme "From Liberation to Transformation.”

Held simultaneously at the Chinese Memorial Cemetery in Gongo la Mboto, Dar es Salaam, and the TAZARA Memorial Park in Lusaka, the ceremonies brought together government leaders, diplomats, TAZARA management, staff and invited guests to pay tribute to the men and women whose sacrifice made possible one of Africa's greatest symbols of international solidarity and cooperation.

Speaking at the Dar es Salaam ceremony, TAZARA Managing Director and CEO, Eng. Bruno  Ching'andu, said the most meaningful way to honour those who gave their lives was to ensure that the railway they built continues to serve future generations.

"The greatest tribute we can pay is to ensure that the railway they built continues to serve the people for whom it was intended. Revitalisation is about preserving a legacy by giving it new life. It is about restoring this historic railway so that it continues to connect our nations, facilitate trade, create jobs and support economic development for generations to come." 

Eng. Ching'andu also paid glowing tribute to the Presidents of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, and the Republic of Zambia, H.E. Mr Hakainde Hichilema, for their visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the revitalisation of TAZARA through the landmark Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession. He said the decision by the two Heads of State had laid the foundation for restoring TAZARA to sustainable operations by unlocking the largest investment in the railway since its construction and addressing the longstanding operational and financial challenges that have constrained the Authority for many years.

In Lusaka, the Permanent Secretary in Zambia's Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Mr Fredrick Mwalusaka, said remembrance must be matched by action.

"The greatest memorial we can offer them is not simply to remember what they built, but to ensure that what they built continues to serve future generations. Revitalising TAZARA is not simply a transport project; it is a regional economic transformation project." 

The Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Zambia, H.E. Han Jing, described TAZARA as "an enduring symbol of freedom, friendship and development," adding that the ongoing revitalisation of the railway is "the finest tribute we can pay to the heroes" who sacrificed their lives during its construction. 

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Tanzania, H.E. Chen Mingjian, said the Chinese experts who lost their lives remain heroes of China-Africa friendship and called for the continued promotion of the TAZARA spirit through deeper cooperation and the successful revitalisation of the railway. 

The memorial ceremonies reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Governments of Tanzania, Zambia and the People's Republic of China to preserve the legacy of TAZARA while positioning the railway to continue driving regional integration, trade and economic development for generations to come.

The memorials form part of a series of activities marking 50 years since TAZARA commenced commercial operations on 14 July 1976. As the Authority celebrates its Golden Jubilee, the focus is not only on remembering the sacrifices that made the railway possible, but also on securing its future through revitalisation, ensuring that TAZARA continues to serve as a strategic corridor of opportunity, friendship and shared prosperity for the next fifty years. Ends

Issued by:
Conrad K. Simuchile, Head Public Relations
Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority

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TAZARA@50 (July 1976 – 2026) From Liberation to Transformation