Zambia breaks ground on 371km Western Corridor upgrade

The Western Corridor Project in Zambia is said to be a transformative infrastructure initiative. Image: Western Corridor Limited

The Western Corridor Project is said to represent a transformative infrastructure initiative aimed at upgrading the 371km Mutanda to Kaoma Road to international standards.

The project is being delivered user a 25-year Public-Private Partnership concession.

It is part of the Zambia government’s Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) that seeks to unlock the economic potential of the Western Corridor through strategic investments in key sectors, including integrated agriculture, infrastructure development, and value addition.

The project includes the construction of three toll plazas, two weighbridges, upgraded bridges, and 20km of urban roads, forming a critical trade artery between Zambia’s mineral-rich regions and the West Coast of Africa.

President Hakainde Hichilema, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, said, “This road means business, business to move goods from Zambia to the world through the port of Walvis Bay, and from the world, through Walvis Bay, back to Zambia.

“This is a great day because infrastructure, roads in particular, open up investment.”