This paper evaluates the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) as a pivotal infrastructure initiative in South-South cooperation, showcasing its socio-economic effects on rural development in Tanzania. The railway was constructed between 1970 and 1975 with financial and technical support from China. TAZARA was designed to reduce Zambia's dependency on apartheid-era transport routes and enhance rural connectivity in Tanzania. The study employs a qualitative methodology based on documentary review to obtain data and thematic content for analysis. Moreover, the study draws upon Modernization Theory and Keynesian Economics to assess how TAZARA impacted infrastructure, employment, trade, and social transformation. Data were collected from academic journals, government reports, and institutional publications. Key findings indicate that TAZARA significantly improved rural infrastructure, facilitated market access, and generated employment opportunities, especially throughout the building and early operation stages. Social mobility increased through better access to education and health services, while regional trade and economic diversification expanded. However, challenges such as aging infrastructure, limited reinvestment, and competition from road transport have undermined long-term sustainability. The study concludes that while TAZARA has had lasting developmental impacts, its full potential remains unrealized without renewed investment, modern governance frameworks, and inclusive stakeholder participation. Under cooperative international settings, the TAZARA case offers important insights into the potential and constraints of infrastructure financed by foreign sources in accomplishing rural development.
Mushi et al. (2026) studied this question.