Zambia has launched a major infrastructure project aimed at transforming regional connectivity and unlocking economic potential through a new trade route to Namibia’s Walvis Bay Port. President Hakainde Hichilema officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Western Corridor Transformation Project in Kasempa, marking the start of what the government describes as one of the country’s most significant public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives.
The project, executed through Western Corridor Limited (WCL)—a special-purpose vehicle formed by BeefCo Limited and First Quantum Minerals (FQM)—has already commenced preparatory works following the official ceremony on 31 October. Senior ministers, traditional leaders, private sector partners and community members attended the launch, underscoring the national importance of the development.
Aligned with Zambia’s Eighth National Development Plan, the project aims to stimulate economic activity across the Western Corridor by supporting agriculture, improving infrastructure and enabling greater value addition. At its centre is the upgrading of the 371km gravel stretch between Mutanda and Kaoma to bituminous standard. The work will include the construction of two major bridges over the Lalafuta and Luena rivers, along with urban road enhancements in Kasempa and Kaoma districts.
Officials say the improved road will significantly shorten travel times, enhance export competitiveness and create new employment opportunities. It will also connect critical mining regions, strengthen agricultural supply chains and form the fastest land route from Zambia to the deep-water port at Walvis Bay, opening new avenues for international trade.
President Hichilema said the project represented a major milestone in economic reform and regional integration. “This road means business – business to move goods from Zambia to the world through the port of Walvis Bay, and from the world back to Zambia,” he said. He noted that PPPs had enabled the government to pursue high-impact investments even during difficult financial periods, adding that the new route would, for the first time, allow Kasempa residents shorter access to Lusaka via Kaoma and Mumbwa.
The President emphasised that the project would directly benefit local communities by generating jobs, supporting youth employment and opening opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises. At least 20% of the project is reserved for Zambian contractors, suppliers and service providers.
WCL chief executive Buks Jansen Van Rensburg urged a collaborative approach to realising the project’s long-term impact. “Let’s build more roads, protect our infrastructure and support the country and all its communities,” he said. He emphasised the need for home-grown solutions, noting that the PPP model had pushed the private sector to deliver at scale.
FQM country manager Dr Godwin Beene said the initiative reflected the mining company’s commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable development. “A thriving mining sector depends on a robust and well-maintained road network—one that connects production centres to markets and communities to opportunities,” he said. The company, he added, had previously invested in road infrastructure in Solwezi and Kalumbila, with the Mutanda–Kaoma project building on that legacy.
The Western Corridor Transformation Project is expected to catalyse economic growth across the province, improving mobility, boosting trade and raising living standards. Officials say the development marks a new phase in Zambia’s efforts to expand infrastructure through strategic partnerships and to position the Western Corridor as a key driver of national and regional development.
