Botswana and Zambia Strengthen Railway Link to Accelerate Regional Integration

Botswana and Zambia reaffirmed their commitment to regional integration during the Joint Ministerial Committee meeting of the Mosetse–Kazungula–Livingstone Railway Link Project, held in Kazungula, Zambia. The meeting aimed to assess progress and define the strategic direction of the project, which seeks to facilitate trade, improve logistics, and boost economic growth in the region.

The Botswana delegation was led by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Noah Salakae, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Ken Ketshajwang, Joint Steering Committee (JSC) Co-Chair Alpheus Matlhaku, and Botswana’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Plato Kabelo Gaoboi. Representatives from Botswana Railways were also in attendance.

On the Zambian side, the delegation was headed by Minister of Transport and Logistics Museba Tayali, joined by Permanent Secretary Fredrick Mwalusaka, JSC Co-Chair Engineer Nkumbu Siame, Joint Technical Committee (JTC) Co-Chair Engineer Cuthbert Malindi, and the Director-General of Zambia Railways.

During the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their intention to continue cooperation in the fields of transport, logistics, and infrastructure, aiming to improve railway connectivity between the two countries. They emphasized the importance of the initiative for sustainable development and for strengthening regional integration.

The Joint Ministerial Committee highlighted progress in the project’s feasibility study and stressed the need to ensure the future railway line adheres to environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and economic viability standards. The goal is to move the project forward in a responsible and efficient manner.

To speed up implementation, it was agreed to reinforce bilateral coordination mechanisms to ensure more effective oversight. Technical teams were instructed to assess the most suitable financing models for the project’s execution.

In this regard, the committee members committed to urgently convening financial experts to identify the best funding solution. The proposed railway line will stretch 430 kilometers, connecting Mosetse, Kazungula, and Livingstone.

This new infrastructure will be part of the North–South Transport Corridor, helping to ease pressure at border posts and energize regional trade. The cooperation between Botswana and Zambia is rooted in a strong historical and cultural relationship, now further strengthened by a shared vision for development.

Source: Botswana and Zambia Strengthen Railway Link to Accelerate Regional Integration (17/06/2025)

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