Zambia Underscores Commitment to Regional Corridor Development at South-South Cooperation Meeting in Awaza
Thursday, 7 August 2025, Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hon. Museba Frank Tayali, has called for landlocked developing countries to align their national development plans with regional and global initiatives, ensuring that transit corridors evolve into engines of broader economic development.
The Minister said this during his address at the Ministerial Meeting on South-South Cooperation on the margins of the United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) held in Awaza, Turkmenistan.
In his Ministerial statement, Hon. Tayali emphasised the need to have a strong commitment to regional and international cooperation for infrastructure development.
“Corridor development is not just about transport—it’s about transforming regional integration through infrastructure, market access, and job creation,” said Hon. Tayali.
The Minister cited Zambia’s alignment with the newly adopted Awaza Programme of Action, building on the Vienna Programme of Action, as a key strategy for long-term development.
He outlined four priority focus areas:
- Alignment of Development Agendas: Zambia is ensuring its national policies work in tandem with global efforts such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and regional strategies, including the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). Projects like the Lobito Corridor are already demonstrating the benefits of such alignment.
- Strengthened International Cooperation: With infrastructure projects often crossing borders, Hon. TAYALI called for deeper collaboration among neighbouring countries within COMESA, SADC, and the EAC under the Tripartite Framework, as well as engagement with bilateral and multilateral partners.
- Implementation Roadmaps and Investment: Highlighting Zambia’s 8th National Development Plan and National Transport Master Plan, the Minister detailed several ongoing initiatives:
- Upgrading of the Nakonde/Tunduma One-Stop Border Post.
- Major enhancements to Kasumbalesa Border Post, including a 2,000-capacity truck park and multi-facility economic zone.
- Accelerated road works on the Mpika–Nakonde and Serenje–Mpika corridors.
- Progress on the Lusaka–Kapiri Mposhi–Ndola Dual Carriageway, which is now 40% complete under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
- Value Chain Development: Hon. Tayali stressed the importance of ensuring that corridor development also drives investment into sectors such as agriculture, trade, tourism, ICT, and energy. He advocated for logistics hubs, dry ports, and supportive infrastructure to amplify corridor benefits.
“Our goal is to ensure that these corridors not only connect us to global markets, but also stimulate domestic economic zones that attract investment and create jobs,” he added.
The Minister concluded by calling for sustained support from the international community and reaffirmed Zambia’s resolve to be a proactive player in the regional integration and development agenda.
