Japan grants US$6.3 million for Zambia Railways maintenance equipment

Editor notes that Zambia and Japan signed a US\$6.3 million (999 million Japanese yen) grant agreement on 22 October 2026 to fund new railway maintenance equipment for Zambia Railways Limited. The agreement was signed by Zambia’s Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and Japanese ambassador Akiteru Mikami. The grant will be used to acquire crane-equipped motor cars and road-rail crane trucks manufactured in Japan, aimed at strengthening Zambia Railways’ maintenance capacity.

This support comes as Zambia Railways pursues a strategic plan to increase annual freight cargo hauled from 800,000 tonnes to 2,600,000 tonnes by the end of 2028, while the country targets 3 million tonnes of copper production by 2030. The grant is part of broader efforts to improve Zambia’s transport infrastructure and export capacity, including participation in regional projects such as the Nacala Corridor, Lobito Corridor, and TAZARA rehabilitation. Japan’s commitment to regional infrastructure through TICAD includes at least 47.6 billion yen for projects in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia.