Tanzania’s President Samia pushes ahead with Mtwara–Mbamba Bay rail link

Dodoma. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced a firm commitment to developing the proposed Mtwara–Mbamba Bay railway as a key part of Tanzania’s extensive national effort to modernise and strengthen its transport network.

Speaking in Dodoma on November 14, 2025 during the official opening of the 13th Parliament, President Samia confirmed the government’s plan to construct a new line that will connect the Port of Mtwara to Mbamba Bay in Ruvuma.

“The new rail route is set to enhance connectivity by joining the mineral zones of Mchuchuma and Liganga, unlocking significant development potential across the southern regions,” President Samia said.

The President described the ambitious project as an "essential investment that will support mineral extraction, agricultural production and regional trade."

The new line forms a critical element of the country’s long-term strategy to enhance transport links and boost economic activity in the south.

President Samia noted that this project is being advanced concurrently with her government’s wider ambition to expand the national Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network, which is already seeing significant progress on the Central Corridor.

The government is also moving forward with plans for the Uvinza–Musongati railway, aimed at deepening economic ties with neighbouring Burundi.

Furthermore, President Samia stated that the Tanga port will be upgraded, an essential step in developing the northern corridor.

"We will continue to improve our Indian Ocean ports, including Tanga, which we will link by rail to the Port of Musoma in Mara," she noted.

Highlighting the need to revitalise existing infrastructure, the President gave an update on the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which is scheduled for major rehabilitation.

She informed members of Parliament that "soon there will be a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the TAZARA Railway Rehabilitation Project, which will take place in Zambia".

The country’s existing Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) network is also set for targeted upgrades to maintain its commercial viability.

Rehabilitation work is planned for sections including the Tabora–Kigoma, Kaliua–Mpanda, Tanga–Arusha, and Ruvu–Mruazi routes.

These interventions are designed to improve rail reliability, reduce transport costs, and provide traders with more efficient options for moving cargo across the nation.

Private sector involvement

In a move to increase efficiency and improve service delivery across the sector, the government confirmed its intention to introduce private operators.

"To start, we will have a private operator on the TAZARA railway," the President said..

The ongoing rail expansion programme represents one of Tanzania's largest infrastructure investments in recent decades.

The SGR project, which commenced in 2017, is central to replacing the ageing metre-gauge system with a modern, high-capacity, and efficient network.

The overall goal is to reinforce Tanzania's status as a premier regional transit route for land-linked nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Zambia.