LHASA, XIZANG — Botswana’s proposed Mosetse–Kazungula–Livingstone railway could significantly strengthen regional trade and improve the movement of goods between Botswana, Zambia and markets further north.
The planned railway would connect Botswana’s existing rail network at Mosetse to Kazungula before crossing into Zambia and linking with Livingstone, creating a new rail corridor between the two neighbouring countries.
In an interview conducted in Lhasa, Xizang Autonomous Region, China, Zambia Railways Limited Managing Director Eng. Cuthbert Malindi indicated that the project had moved beyond the initial feasibility stage and was progressing towards the technical and financing work required for implementation.
Malindi explained that the railway would open new trade routes for Botswana and Zambia, improving the movement of goods and strengthening the two countries’ access to wider regional markets.
The project is expected to complement the Kazungula Bridge and provide an alternative to the heavy reliance on road freight, particularly for minerals, agricultural commodities and other bulk cargo.
Malindi also highlighted the proposed Mmamabula–Lephalale railway between Botswana and South Africa as another important regional rail project that could strengthen Southern Africa’s transport network.
The Mmamabula–Lephalale link is intended to provide Botswana with a more direct rail connection into South Africa and improve access to regional and international markets.
Together, the two railway projects could strengthen Botswana’s position as a regional transport and logistics hub, connecting the country more effectively with Zambia to the north and South Africa to the south.
The Mosetse–Kazungula–Livingstone railway could also reduce pressure on major highways, lower freight costs and support the movement of agricultural products, minerals and other goods across the region.
The project presents opportunities for international cooperation in railway financing, construction, technology and skills development.
China’s extensive experience in developing railway infrastructure across Africa could provide one possible avenue for future cooperation, although no Chinese contractor or financier has been confirmed for the project.
If successfully implemented, the railway could strengthen regional supply chains, improve access to markets and contribute to deeper economic integration across Southern Africa.