In an interview with Railways Africa Magazine, Nacala Logistics, through its operating company Central East African Railways (CEAR), has taken a further step towards strengthening regional rail connectivity with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Zambia Railways Limited during the Land-Linked Zambia Conference in Lusaka.
The MoU was signed on 24 April 2026 by Mr Cuthbert Malindi, Managing Director of Zambia Railways Limited, and Mr B. P. Awasthi, Head and Chief Operating Officer of Nacala Logistics. The agreement sets the foundation for the operationalisation of the Chipata–Mchinji Railway Line, a strategic link connecting eastern Zambia to Malawi’s rail network and onward to the Port of Nacala in Mozambique.
Once fully operational, the route is expected to provide Zambia with its shortest rail access to the Indian Ocean, improving the efficiency of cargo movement and strengthening regional trade flows. The line is also part of the broader Nacala Development Corridor, which is being pursued by Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.
The Chipata–Mchinji connection has long been viewed as an important regional link. The first goods train operated on the route in 2014, but operations were later suspended following natural disruptions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The renewed partnership between Nacala Logistics and Zambia Railways Limited signals a commitment to returning the corridor to service after several years of inactivity.
For Zambia Railways Limited, the immediate task is the rehabilitation of the existing 24-kilometre stretch between Chipata and Mchinji. The line is already in place, meaning the focus is on restoring it to an operational condition that will allow traffic to resume. According to Zambia Railways Limited, technical teams have indicated that the rehabilitation work could be completed within six months.
The aim is to open a through corridor to the Port of Nacala, allowing Zambia Railways Limited to operate trains from Chipata to Nacala, while working with Nacala Logistics to support the movement of freight along the corridor. For Zambia, the route adds another logistics option and strengthens the country’s position as a land-linked economy with access to multiple regional ports.
Nacala’s strategic value lies in its role as a deep-water port and as an alternative route for both inbound and outbound cargo. Zambia Railways Limited expects the reopened corridor to support additional traffic moving through Nacala and to contribute to its broader freight growth ambitions, including a target of five million metric tonnes within three years.
From Nacala Logistics’ perspective, the MoU extends an existing logistics network from Mozambique and Malawi into Zambia’s Eastern Province, up to Chipata. Nacala Logistics, headquartered in Nacala, Mozambique, operates as the logistics and transportation arm of Vulcan Mozambique, supporting an integrated mine-to-port operation that includes mining, rail transport, port handling and export activity.
In addition to coal, Nacala Logistics transports containers, packed cargo, bulk cargo, fuel, fertilisers and agricultural products in Mozambique and Malawi. The extension into Zambia is expected to support the movement of fertiliser, fuel and agricultural produce in and out of Chipata, an agricultural hub in the Eastern Province.
The revival of the Chipata–Mchinji connection is therefore significant not only for Zambia Railways Limited and Nacala Logistics, but also for the wider regional logistics system. The route provides a direct rail pathway between eastern Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, with the potential to improve trade connectivity across the three countries.
The MoU also follows a stronger operating year for Nacala Logistics. In 2025, the company exceeded its coal transportation targets, surpassing a previous best of 13.7 million tonnes and closing the year at 14.56 million tonnes. It also exceeded its general cargo transportation targets across containers, bagged cargo, fertiliser and clinker. After years of losses in general cargo, the company broke even in that segment.
To support increased volumes, Nacala Logistics has also added capacity through rolling stock investment. The company has inducted close to 100 flat wagons capable of carrying two 20-foot containers each. This increases container carrying capacity compared with previous operations, where one wagon typically carried either one 40-foot container or one 20-foot container.
The signing at the Land-Linked Zambia Conference underlines the role of strategic partnerships in restoring and expanding cross-border rail corridors. The agreement also reflects the broader policy emphasis on positioning Zambia as a key player in regional and international trade by improving access to ports beyond its borders.
For the Nacala Development Corridor, the rehabilitation of the Chipata–Mchinji line represents a practical step towards renewed regional integration. Its success will depend on coordinated action between governments, railway operators, public agencies and private partners, with rail positioned as a cost-effective and more sustainable mode for moving goods across borders.
Written by Phillippa Dean
