Dry ports and inland terminals for Zambian cargo

Zambia dry port at Walvis Bay

An undated WFP Logistics Cluster profile says the Government of Namibia donated a 30,000 square metre area to the Government of Zambia at Walvis Bay. It lists the Namibian Ports Authority (NAMPORT) as the managing port authority ².

WFP says development began in 2017 in three phases and the first two are complete. A 3,000 square metre warehouse for lead, copper, sulphur and zinc is planned. The site has four storage houses and 72 temperature connections for goods such as meat and fish. It is about 2,000 km from Lusaka ².

Freight News reported on 13 May 2011 that the first phase of a Zambian dry port at Walvis Bay, a 10,000 square metre container park for 1,200 TEUs, was due to start that month ³. On 29 August 2018 Freight News reported that phase 2 was in its final stages and that the final bonded warehouse would be 30,000 square metres ⁴. WFP says the foundation was laid in 2017, so the two sources differ on timing ^2,3. Both Freight News reports name a private concession holder. No official record read for this page confirms the operator, so it is not named here.

TAZARA dry port at New Kapiri Mposhi

WFP describes the Dry Port of Tazara at New Kapiri Mposhi, at the terminal end of the TAZARA railway. It lists an area of 40,000 square metres, one 36 MT container gantry, two weighbridges and facilities for 20 ft and 40 ft containers ¹.

WFP lists the Central African Corridor Company Ltd as managing company and clearing agent for containers arriving on TAZARA. Its overview says the Dar es Salaam Corridor Group built the port under a Build-Lease-Transfer deal with TAZARA on a 25-year lease. WFP does not explain how the two relate ¹.

WFP says the TAZARA line runs about 1,860 km from Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi ¹⁰.

Planned Kapiri Mposhi dry port

Zambia Monitor reported on 17 May 2025 that Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali met a Chinese delegation on the Kapiri Mposhi Dry Port. It said feasibility studies were complete, land was secured and preliminary designs were ready. The plan includes bonded warehouses and customs inspection zones under a public-private partnership ⁵.

Lusaka Times reported on 12 January 2026 that the government was working with Chinese investors on the dry port. Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Siazongo Siakalenge said it was time to move from discussions to implementation. The report said the TAZARA concession was signed on 29 September 2025 ⁶.

WFP names China Civil Engineering Construction Company for track rehabilitation under a US$1.4 billion TAZARA Revitalisation Agreement and China Railway Construction Corporation as holding a 30-year concession ¹⁰. The status of the dry port on 24 October 2026 is planned.

Facilities outside Zambia and lake ports

Tanzania's Daily News reported on 5 February 2024 that Tanzania and Zambia agreed to speed up a centre at Kwala Dry Port for Zambian transit cargo. President Samia Suluhu Hassan offered Zambia a 20-hectare plot on 24 October 2023. Zambia's High Commissioner Mathew Jere said Zambia would speed up the legal process for the land ⁷.

On Lake Tanganyika, WFP says Mpulungu Harbour is run by the Industrial Development Corporation, with ZRA present in the harbour area. It lists freight handling of about 200,000 MT and five warehouses. Storage is free for 14 days, then US$0.25 per day per MT for bagged cereals ⁹.

Customs rules for inland and bonded facilities

The undated WFP customs profile lists bonded facilities at Kenneth Kaunda and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe airports, Lusaka Dryport and sites at Kasumbalesa, Sakania, Nakonde, Chirundu and Livingstone. It mentions a Sakania Inland Bonded Warehouse launched in late 2025 ⁸.

WFP says Removal in Bond lets goods move through Zambia for 30 days without immediate tax payment. Bonded warehouses allow storage for up to 12 months. Road transit goods must exit within 5 days and rail transit within 30 days ⁸.