The TAZARA railway was built btwn 1970 and 1975. It was to connect Zambia's copper mines to the port at Dar es Salaam.
The funds--over $400 million--came from Mao's China. It was China's largest aid project to date.
Here's Nyerere & Kaunda at the groundbreaking, Oct. 1970. 1/
The funds--over $400 million--came from Mao's China. It was China's largest aid project to date.
Here's Nyerere & Kaunda at the groundbreaking, Oct. 1970. 1/
2/
Nyerere & Kaunda hoped the railway wld help create economies freed from the control of the racist regimes of S Africa & Rhodesia.
By Aug. 1973 50,000 workers had laid 600 miles of track. Here's the ceremony when the workers reached Tunduma, at the border between TZ & Zambia.
Nyerere & Kaunda hoped the railway wld help create economies freed from the control of the racist regimes of S Africa & Rhodesia.
By Aug. 1973 50,000 workers had laid 600 miles of track. Here's the ceremony when the workers reached Tunduma, at the border between TZ & Zambia.
3/
Here's Nyerere in 1970 defending his government's willingness to work with China.
When the skeptical interviewer asked about Mao--who had said that Africa was 'ripe for revolution'--Nyerere replied that 'I, too, say Africa is ripe for revolution'.
Here's Nyerere in 1970 defending his government's willingness to work with China.
When the skeptical interviewer asked about Mao--who had said that Africa was 'ripe for revolution'--Nyerere replied that 'I, too, say Africa is ripe for revolution'.
4/
By Oct. 1975 the line--1,100 miles long--was complete.
Here's the opening of the line at Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia, July 1976. Present were Kaunda, Nyerere, Mobutu, Seretse Khama of Botswana & Chinese Vice-Premier Sun Jian.
By Oct. 1975 the line--1,100 miles long--was complete.
Here's the opening of the line at Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia, July 1976. Present were Kaunda, Nyerere, Mobutu, Seretse Khama of Botswana & Chinese Vice-Premier Sun Jian.
5/
Here's a clip showing the opening of the TAZARA station in Dar es Salaam, Oct. 1975.
At the time of its completion it was the longest railway in Africa. It was said, by some, to be the most complicated engineering project attempted anywhere in the world since World War II.
Here's a clip showing the opening of the TAZARA station in Dar es Salaam, Oct. 1975.
At the time of its completion it was the longest railway in Africa. It was said, by some, to be the most complicated engineering project attempted anywhere in the world since World War II.
6/
All clips from @Reuters.
For more about the TAZARA railway, its construction, and its politics, have a look at my @MSUAfrica colleague Jamie Monson's book _Africa's Freedom Railway_, published by @iupress & available here:
iupress.org/9780253223227/…
All clips from @Reuters.
For more about the TAZARA railway, its construction, and its politics, have a look at my @MSUAfrica colleague Jamie Monson's book _Africa's Freedom Railway_, published by @iupress & available here:
iupress.org/9780253223227/…
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