The project is a strategic priority for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), designed to shift heavy freight from road to rail and integrate the North-South Corridor more effectively.
Infrastructure scope and alignment
The proposed railway will span approximately 430 km, bridging the gap between the existing rail heads in both countries:
- Botswana Section: 365 km from Mosetse to the Kazungula Bridge.
- Zambian Section: 65 km from the Kazungula Bridge to Livingstone.
- Key Asset: The line will utilize the Kazungula Bridge, which already features a pre-installed rail deck across the Zambezi River.
Strategic objectives and regional trade
The MKL project aims to provide a more efficient logistics route for mining and agricultural exports, reducing the 600-mile roundtrip dependency on road haulage through the busy Kazungula border post. By linking Zambia Railways Limited and Botswana Railways, the corridor will create a smooth connection for cargo moving between the Port of Durban in railway entities to ensure interoperability.
