The organisers of Land-Linked Zambia 2026, Africast, have confirmed that key stakeholders from the Southern African railway sector will participate in the upcoming conference and exhibition, taking place from 22 to 24 April 2026 at Ciêla Resort in Lusaka, Zambia.
Now in its fifth year, the event will be held under the theme “Beyond Borders: Re-Imagining Africa’s Transport Corridors for Prosperity”, reflecting the growing regional shift towards a more connected, land-linked Africa. This shift is being driven by expanding infrastructure investment and increasing collaboration across the transport and logistics value chain.
Following the recent confirmation of six major SADC ports, the inclusion of leading railway operators, suppliers, policymakers and technical partners further strengthens the event’s role as the platform for advancing corridor development and regional integration.
From a railway perspective, participants will have the opportunity to engage with the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), the bi-national railway organisation jointly owned by Tanzania and Zambia, responsible for operating the line linking Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi.
Also participating are Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL), Botswana Railways, Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), Société Nationale des Chemins de fer du Congo (SNCC), Transnet, and Mozambique Ports and Railways Company (CFM).
Regional coordination will be represented by the Southern African Railways Association (SARA), alongside private rail operators including Traxtion and Calabash Freight. Global technical expertise will be reflected through participation from Plasser & Theurer, voestalpine, and North Rail, among others.
Corridor Development Driving Regional Integration
At the centre of discussions will be the continued development of strategic rail corridors linking inland economies to major seaports.
The TAZARA corridor remains a critical export route for copper and other minerals from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with ongoing efforts focused on rehabilitation and operational reform. Zambia Railways Limited continues to play a key role in strengthening inland connectivity and linking multiple regional corridors, supported by funding initiatives aimed at rehabilitating critical infrastructure, signalling and communication systems.
In parallel, Zambia and Botswana are advancing the Mosetse–Kazungula–Livingstone (MKL) Rail Project, while Zambia Railways Limited is progressing rolling stock rehabilitation.
The Lobito Atlantic Railway is emerging as one of the most advanced public-private partnership rail concessions on the continent, facilitating mineral exports from the Copperbelt through Angola and providing an alternative route to traditional east and southbound corridors.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, SNCC’s network rehabilitation remains central to unlocking mineral flows in the Katanga region, with integration into both the Lobito and Central corridors.
Southern Africa’s established freight backbone, operated by Transnet, continues to anchor the North–South Corridor, linking Gauteng to the ports of Durban and Richards Bay. Mozambique’s rail operator CFM, remains critical in connecting inland markets to the ports of Maputo, Beira, and Nacala, reinforcing the importance of port-rail integration.
From Infrastructure to Interoperability
While infrastructure investment is accelerating, the focus is increasingly shifting towards interoperability, coordination, and operational efficiency.
The participation of SARA highlights the importance of harmonising standards, improving cross-border coordination, and enabling more seamless rail operations across national systems.
Private sector operators such as Traxtion and Calabash are supporting more flexible, open-access rail models, particularly through rolling stock provision and rolling stock maintenance.
Technical capability remains a critical component of network performance. Companies such as Plasser & Theurer and voestalpine contribute to track maintenance, infrastructure renewal, and system reliability, supporting increased corridor utilisation.
These developments reflect a broader shift in how African transport networks are being positioned. Rather than viewing geography as a constraint, countries are increasingly focusing on connectivity, integration and shared infrastructure use.
Land-Linked Zambia 2026 is providing the platform to advance this agenda, bringing together key stakeholders to address implementation challenges, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate the development of corridors that support regional trade and economic growth.
For more information, visit: https://landlinkedzambia.com/
To register interest, complete the expression of interest form: https://landlinkedzambia.com/forms/expression-of-interest/
