THE opening of Shoulder to Shoulder on the Same Path, a joint art exhibition celebrating the Tanzania-Zambia Railway’s 50-year legacy, marked a renewed affirmation of a shared history built through sacrifice, determination and partnership between China, Tanzania and Zambia.
Hosted at the National Museum of Tanzania and organised through collaboration among the Chinese Embassy, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Museum of China, the National Museum of Tanzania and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, the exhibition commemorates the enduring story of TAZARA (Tanzania–Zambia Railway), a historic 1,860-kilometre rail line connecting Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.
This is an engineering achievement and a symbol of political will that reshaped regional development and international friendship. Gracing the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Chen Mingjian emphasised that the artworks breathe new life into the narrative of a railway born from solidarity during the struggle for independence and economic self-determination.
Here, the pieces on display reveal layered interpretations by Chinese and Tanzanian artists who combine traditional Chinese techniques with local Tanzanian artistic sensibilities.
These works illustrate TAZARA not merely as a rail line but as a lived journey of hope, hardship and shared destiny across generations. Through visual storytelling, the exhibition underscores the belief that TAZARA’s legacy remains a cornerstone of the long-standing China–Tanzania relationship and a reference point for the ongoing modernisation efforts shaping today’s regional aspirations.
Take note that the historical roots of TAZARA trace back to the mid-1960s, when Tanzania and Zambia newly independent and determined to escape the economic constraints imposed by colonialera structures committed to building a railway linking landlocked Zambia to the Port of Dar es Salaam.
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By then, Presidents Julius Nyerere and Kenneth Kaunda envisioned an infrastructural lifeline capable of bypassing politically hostile routes controlled by minority regimes in southern Africa.
Yet despite the project’s strategic importance for African sovereignty and development, repeated appeals for funding from Western governments and major financial institutions were dismissed. These rejections strengthened the resolve of Tanzanian and Zambian leaders, who turned to China at a time when China itself faced economic hardships.
Responding with immediacy and clarity, Chinese leaders including Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai agreed to support the initiative despite China’s limited resources. The political and moral weight of the request aligned with China’s solidarity with African liberation movements and commitment to anti-colonial ideals. China dispatched more than 50,000 technical experts, engineers and workers while shipping over one million tons of construction materials.
Together with tens of thousands of Tanzanian and Zambian labourers, the multinational workforce endured extreme terrain, harsh climates and dangerous working conditions as they carved the rail line across mountains, valleys and unwelcoming landscapes.
Hundreds of Chinese, Tanzanian and Zambian workers lost their lives in the process, their sacrifice embedded permanently in the foundations of the tracks that would become known as the “Freedom Railway.” Completed in 1975, the railway immediately transformed regional connectivity.
It gave Zambia a secure trade outlet to the Indian Ocean, supported liberation movements in Southern Africa, strengthened trade flows and laid the groundwork for new economic corridors.
TAZARA became an emblem of collective sacrifice and internationalism, symbolising the principles of mutual respect, perseverance, equality among nations and selflessness. Its significance extended far beyond transportation; it represented political courage, unity of purpose and the belief that shared struggle can construct shared futures.
However, as decades passed, the railway infrastructure aged while regional economic activities expanded beyond the system’s original capacity. Outdated technology, management challenges and increasing demand signalled the need for comprehensive modernisation.
Revitalising TAZARA became a shared priority for Tanzania, Zambia and China. This common interest gained momentum during the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, where leaders from the three nations jointly witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to rebuild and upgrade the railway.
Subsequent coordinated efforts among technical departments and companies prepared the groundwork for implementation. These efforts culminated recently in Lusaka, where Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Tanzanian Vice-President Emmanuel John Nchimbi attended the groundbreaking ceremony marking the official start of TAZARA’s revitalisation project.
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Guided by the strategic vision of national leaders, the project aims to restore the railway’s capacity while creating a modernised transport artery capable of supporting trade expansion, agricultural growth, industrial development, tourism enhancement and multi-sector connectivity.
By reinvigorating this historic line, the three governments intend to position TAZARA as a catalyst for a new regional prosperity belt an integrated development zone that leverages the railway to unlock broader economic opportunities across Tanzania and Zambia.
The ambition behind the prosperity belt reflects a shared commitment to equitable modernisation rooted in people-centred development, environmental sustainability, inclusiveness and longterm peace. The joint vision aligns with contemporary China–Africa cooperation frameworks that prioritise high-quality infrastructure, green development pathways and collaborative governance models.
Through equal-footed consultation and joint contribution, the three countries seek to ensure that the enhanced railway benefits local communities, supports crossborder commerce and promotes social cohesion while honouring the legacy of those who built the original line half a century ago.
This anniversary year holds additional historical resonance, marking sixty years since President Nyerere’s first state visit to China, the signing of the China– Tanzania Treaty of Friendship and Premier Zhou Enlai’s visit to Tanzania.
These milestones reflect a durable relationship built on strategic trust and reinforced by decades of people-to-people exchanges, diplomatic consistency and mutual support on issues of core national interest. China regards Tanzania as an all-weather partner, while Tanzania continues to regard China as a reliable collaborator in national development, cultural exchange and modernisation.
During the exhibition launch, Ambassador Chen highlighted that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China produced new strategic directions for China’s modernisation agenda. These decisions, she noted, carry implications for China–Africa cooperation by reinforcing pathways for shared development and outlining frameworks for deeper engagement.
She expressed confidence that both countries can jointly advance modernisation rooted in solidarity, innovation, coordinated growth and common prosperity. Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Ashatu Kijaji, described the exhibition as a “living classroom” that preserves intergenerational memory and educates the public on the historical, economic and social dimensions of TAZARA.
The artwork, she observed, not only honours the sacrifices of its builders but also reinforces the enduring relevance of the railway in contemporary national narratives.
Through vivid depictions of construction scenes, landscapes and human emotion, the exhibition deepens appreciation of the shared historical experience that binds the three countries and strengthens people-to-people understanding.
Dr Kijaji praised the collaborative spirit behind the exhibition, noting that the fusion of artistic traditions captures the depth of China– Tanzania friendship and the shared aspiration for a more interconnected and prosperous future. For her, the exhibition is a reminder that culture carries the power to sustain memory, inspire unity and illuminate pathways for future cooperation.