Southern Africa was once a continent leader in railway infrastructure, connecting mineral-rich zones with port cities like Durban and Maputo. But decades of underinvestment have left much of the rail network in disrepair. Now, there’s growing interest in reviving these networks as fuel prices soar and pressure mounts to reduce road congestion.
South Africa’s Transnet has launched plans to modernize freight corridors from Gauteng to Durban, while Mozambique’s CFM (Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique) is expanding rail links to the Tete coalfields. Zimbabwe recently entered a joint venture with Russia’s UralVagonZavod to upgrade rolling stock and rehabilitate the Beitbridge-Harare-Chitungwiza route.
A functional rail network offers greener, more efficient bulk transport—vital for mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. But it must compete with the flexibility of road freight. Success depends on regional integration, technology upgrades, and private-public partnerships that prioritize both infrastructure and operational efficiency.
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Insights May 13, 2025
Cross-Border Trucking
truck freight dominates Southern Africa’s logistics, carrying up to 80% of regional goods traffic. Popular corridors include Durban–Lusaka, Beira–Harare, and Walvis Bay–Gaborone. But truckers face serious challenges: roadblocks, bribery, border delays, and poor infrastructure. For instance, Beitbridge Border Post, between South Africa and Zimbabwe, is infamous for multi-day waits. However, modernization efforts through the Zimborders […]