Zambia

The TAZAMA crude oil pipeline stretches 1,705 km from the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam to Ndola in Zambia, jointly owned two-thirds by the Government of Zambia and one-third by the Government of Tanzania.

Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa that shares its northeastern border with Tanzania, making Tanzania one of its most strategic neighbours for trade, transit, and energy logistics.

The two nations are among the oldest allies in the region and jointly formed the front line states that supported independence movements across southern Africa.

Zambia and Tanzania: A Historic Regional Alliance

Tanzania and Zambia have maintained bilateral relations rooted in shared political history and cross-border infrastructure.

Both countries are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Their partnership was cemented during the liberation era, when they collectively acted as front line nations backing independence for neighbouring African states.

Geographic and Economic Profile of Zambia

Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is bordered to the north by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south, Namibia to the southwest, and Angola to the west.

The capital city is Lusaka, located in the south-central part of the country.

Zambia's population and economic activity are concentrated around Lusaka in the south and the Copperbelt Province to the north, which together form the country's core economic hubs.

As a landlocked economy, Zambia depends heavily on transport corridors through its neighbours, with Tanzania offering the shortest access to a deep-water port on the Indian Ocean.

The TAZAMA Oil Pipeline

In 1966, an oil pipeline known as TAZAMA was constructed between Tanzania and Zambia.

The name TAZAMA is an abbreviation derived from Tanzania, Zambia, and mafuta, the Swahili word for oil.

Two-thirds of the company's shares are owned by the Government of Zambia, while one-third belongs to the Government of Tanzania.

The pipeline transports crude oil from the Tanzanian port city of Dar es Salaam to the Zambian city of Ndola, covering a total length of 1,705 km.

The TAZARA Railway

Between 1970 and 1975, a railway was constructed linking Zambia and Tanzania.

The railway has a total length of 1,860 km and was built with financial support from the People's Republic of China.

TAZARA provides Zambia with rail access to the Tanzanian coast and remains a defining piece of bilateral infrastructure between the two states.

Diplomatic Engagement

At present, Tanzania and Zambia maintain friendly relations underpinned by frequent high-level engagement.

In February 2015, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete paid a two-day visit to Lusaka at the invitation of Zambian President Edgar Lungu.

Such visits reinforce the political framework that supports the shared pipeline, railway, and multilateral coordination within SADC and the African Union.

Policy Framework Between Tanzania and Zambia

The bilateral framework is anchored in joint ownership structures such as TAZAMA, where the Government of Tanzania and the Government of Zambia are the direct shareholders.

Both countries operate within the Southern African Development Community, providing a regional platform for trade, transport, and investment coordination.

Membership in the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement further aligns their foreign policy positions on continental and global matters.

Investment Opportunities Linked to Zambia in Tanzania

The TAZAMA pipeline corridor from Dar es Salaam to Ndola offers investment potential in petroleum logistics, storage, and downstream distribution serving landlocked Zambian demand.

The TAZARA railway, spanning 1,860 km, presents opportunities in freight services, rolling stock, terminal operations, and value-added logistics along the corridor connecting the Copperbelt to the Indian Ocean.

Port and transit services in Dar es Salaam stand to benefit from Zambia's continued reliance on Tanzania as its northeastern gateway to global markets.

Cross-border trade with Lusaka and the Copperbelt Province opens prospects for manufacturers, agri-processors, and service providers based in Tanzania seeking access to a landlocked Southern African market.

Energy infrastructure, including maintenance and expansion of the joint pipeline system, is a natural area for long-term capital deployment given the shared sovereign ownership structure.

Last Update: July 2026