China and Tanzania have taken a major step in expanding their railway cooperation: a three-month technician training program for Tanzanian railway staff has just been completed. Organized by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and hosted by Beijing Jiaotong University, the initiative trained 67 Tanzanian trainees – including 11 women in critical areas such as vehicle maintenance, safety management, and operational systems.
According to CCECC, this is one of the most significant talent-development projects ever undertaken by Tanzania Railways Corporation. The program was approved by Tanzanian authorities in April to fill urgent gaps in skilled labor for the country’s rapidly growing standard-gauge railway network.
Alongside classroom theory, the training included rigorous hands-on instruction. Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College of China provided practical support, while trainees rotated through modules on mechanical maintenance, freight and passenger safety, dispatching efficiency, and system management.
CCECC says the graduates will return home as “seed instructors,” establishing a sustainable pipeline of local talent who can pass on their skills by training others. This development marks a shift: China’s role in Tanzania is not limited to railway construction, but now includes building operational capacity. As CCECC noted, this program underscores a move from infrastructure delivery to joint development of rail operations.
This training program fits into a broader China-Tanzania strategy. In September 2025, Tanzania sent 22 train drivers to China for an 87-day advanced training course aimed at strengthening their expertise on standard-gauge railway systems.
Another training initiative – run by the China-Africa Vocational Education Alliance is upskilling more than 400 Tanzanian construction workers employed by the China Railway Jianchang Engineering Company (CRJE) in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma. These programs cover safety, intelligent construction technology, measurement, and quality assurance.
On the infrastructure side, China is also playing a central role in reviving the TAZARA railway, which connects Tanzania to Zambia. The railway was originally built in the 1970s with Chinese support.
By investing in human capital, China is helping Tanzania build a self-reliant and skilled railway workforce, not just laying tracks, but ensuring the system can run sustainably. For Tanzania, the training program supports long-term capacity building and reduces reliance on external expertise. For China, it strengthens bilateral ties by creating a shared technical backbone for future railway projects.
This kind of cooperation shows a mature, long-term vision: as China helps finance and build key infrastructure, it is also fostering local ownership and knowledge. The result is not just new rail lines but a deeper, more sustainable partnership between the two nations.
