New Highway Africa The Politics of Infrastructure Giulia Scotto, … · 2018. 4. 13. · Zambia...

Highway Africa

Giulia Scotto, Misato Kimura

Uni Basel, Urban Studies, SS 2017

The Politics of Infrastructure

Highway Africa

2 3Giulia Scotto and Misato Kimura Uni Basel, Urban Studies, FS 2017


Democratic Republic of the Congo (Belgian Congo 1908–60) (Congo free State 1960-1971) (Zaire 1971-1997)

POLITICS

FOREIGN POLITICS

ECONOMY

INFRASTRUCTURE

1961Joins Non-aligned movement.

1961 Prime Minister Lumumba was killed by Belgians

30.6.1960Independent from Belgium.President: Joseph Kasa-Vubu (USA) Prime minister: Patrice E. Lulumba (USSR)

1960Tschombe with USA and Belgium fight for independence of Katanga province. (against Lumumba: being afraid of min-eral industries be nationalized))

1965 Joseph-Désiré Mobutu became the head of state with a coupe.Anti-communist and supported by USA Western governments.

1966 Mobutu abolishes Prime Minister

1967Mobuto dissolves parliament

1963Founding member of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)

1967 Union Miniere (former Belgium Mine company) was national-ized as GECAMINES

1960-1965Congo Crisis. Civil war with Soviet Union and United States supporting opposing factions

1961-1975Angolan War for Independence

1958 Speech at Accrain International Pan African Conference by Lumumba

1971 Congo purged of colonial cultural influence becomes Zaire

1971Tschombe is sentence to death and had to escape Zaire.

1977 Single-candidate elections.Mobutu second term as president

1975 Benguela railway (Angola-Zaire) shut down

6.1971First TAH Lagos-Mombasa meeting in Addis Ababa.Kamerun-CAR-Kenya-Nigeria-Uganda-Zaire agree on TAH 8 corridor construction

1975 The National Way “Voie National”

1950　　　　　　　　　　1960　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　1970 1980　　　 1990

1950 　　　　　　　　1960 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　1970 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　1980 1990

1972Road Authority (Office des Routes) estabil-ished

1974 Railway nationalized

1976Shaba war 1

1977Angolan FNLC guerrillas enter Shaba

1978Shaba war 2

Angolan Civil War 1975 until 2002

1966 Benguela railway frequently sabotaged until 2002

1955 Vietnam War raise of Copper Price Until 1975

Members of OAU (Organizationof African Unity)

copper price1967 OAU summit in Zaire and OAU village was constructed in Kinshasa

1972 Mobutu visited China and North Korea

1979Mobutu constructed “People’s Palace” in Kinshasa with China’s aid

Highway Africa



1972Zambia become a one party state (UNIP)

1991First Multiparty electionEnd of Kaunda period

1978Kaunda is re-elected

1970-80Kaunda supporting liberation movements in Mozambique, Namibia, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and South Africa.

1983Kaunda is re-elected

1990 Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD)

19551960 1970 1980 1990ZAMBIA (Northern Rhodesia 1911-1964)

24.10. 1964Northern Rhodesia becomes indipendent Zambia.Kenneth David Kaunda is president (UNIP)His slogan: “One Zambia, One Nation’Nationalist-socialist ideology: Zambian Humanism. Central planning/state control and African values.

1959United National Independence Party (UNIP) is founded

POLITICS1963Joins the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) 1970

Lusaka hosts Non-aligned movement summit

1955 Vietnam War raise of Copper Price Until 1975

1968-1971Kaunda acquire 51% (or more) of key foreign-owned firms and merges them under the Zambia Industrial and Mining Corporation (ZIMCO)

1973Increase in the price of oil.

1964Joins Non-aligned movement.

1965Southern Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe) declared independence from Britain. Prime minister: Ian Smith

1967President Kaunda with Chinese government, negotiation for Tan-Zam Railway

Zambia is depending on the Rhodesia Railway and Benguela railway to transport minerals to outside

FOREIGN POLITICS

ECONOMY

INFRASTRUCTURE

Angolan Civil War 1975 until 2002

1966 Benguela ailway frequently sabotaged until 2002

1970 Zambia v.s Southern Rhodesia frequent border closure

1976 Tanzam Railway opened 1967 President Kaunda with China negotiation of Tanzam Railway

19501960 1970 1980 1990

copper price

1976Zambia fell into debt with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

1981Zambian Consolidated Copper Mines Ltd.(ZCCM) was established (controlled by the nation)

Highway Africa



The Benguela Railway was built by Portuguese between 1903 and 1931 in order to connect the copper-belt region of Zambia and Congo/Zaire (Shaba or Katanga region) to the port of Benguela in Angola. This route was the shortest way between Europe and central Africa mining area. Zaire (and partially Zambia) heavily relied on this railway to export their minerals. Since 1960s, as Angola moved towards decolo-nization, the railway had been used as a geo-political instrument from the different forces (and counries) involved in the Angolan Civil War.

After the independence of Zambia, the Rhodesia Rail-way was still used to export minerals and import oil. This route went through Southern Rhodesia, Mozambique, and South Africa to the ports of Durban, Port Elizabeth and Beira. Zambia’s rail outlet to the sea ran through enemy (white ruled) territory.In 1965 Ian Smith, the Prime Minister of Rhodesia, proclaimed the country’s Unilateral Declaration of Inde-pendence. The illegal declaration Caused a U.N. inter-national embargo on petroleum and other goods to and through Rhodesia. Between 1965 and 1979, Zambia and Rhodesia continued closing and opening borders. This route instability strongly damaged Zambian export and import traffic.

Benguela Railway

1964

Power Map in 1974-1975

MPLA UNITA FNLA VS

Soviet UnionCuba Katanga anti-Mubutu Rebels

South Africa (Zambia)

Zaire U.S (China)

When Angola started moving toward independence, Zam-bia and Zaire were afraid that MPLA would take over the country and would nationalize the Benguela Railway. To avoid the nationalization of the railway, Zambia joined UNITA against Communist MPLA. However, in 1967, South Africa joined UNITA and started bombing the Benguela railway without informing Zambian’s President Kaunda. South Africa’s intention was primarily to disturb MPLA’s actions in Angola, but also to force Zambia and Zaire to use the Rhodesia Railways through the south to South Africa. Zambia decided therefore to stop supporting UNITA and to ally with MPLA. On 11 November 1975, MPLA conquered the capital of Angola, and took power over the entire nation. Soon after Angola’s independence, the Angolan civil war broke out and UNITA’s attacks to bridges and Railways continued until 1990.

Rhodesia Railways

Rhodesia’s UDI: Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

From Copperbelt Region to the Indian Ocean

The Rhodesia Railway is a network of railways that connect the cop-per-belt region of Zambia (Norther Rhodesia) to different ports in South Africa and Mozambique. The various segments were construct-ed between 1893 and 1909. During colonial period, the copper export from Northern Rhodesia were almost completely dependent on this railway.

Benguela Railway and Angolan Civil War

1976 Ian Smith in Pretoria to Discuss the UDI

Britsh advertisement for the Benguela Railway.

Map of the Rhodesia Railways.

Benguela train station after civil war.

1966IndependentPortugalBritainWhite dominion

National Way

Rhodesia Railway

Benguela Railway

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC

OF THE CONGO

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BECHUANALAND

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA

JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN

PORT ELIZABETHCAPE TOWN

BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

KINSHASA

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

MATADI

ILEBO

LUBUMBASHI

Rhodesia Railway

Benguela Railway

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC

OF THE CONGO

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA

Great North Road“Hells Run”

JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN


BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

KINSHASA

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

MATADI

ILEBO

LUBUMBASHI

Rhodesia Railway

Benguela Railway

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC

OF THE CONGO

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA


JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN


BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

KINSHASA

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

MATADI

ILEBO

LUBUMBASHIRhodesia Railway

Benguela Railway

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC

OF THE CONGO

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA


JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN


BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

KINSHASA

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

MATADI

ILEBO

LUBUMBASHI

Rhodesia Railway

Benguela Railway

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC

OF THE CONGO

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA


JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN


BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

KINSHASA

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

MATADI

ILEBO

LUBUMBASHI

Highway Africa



In 1975, the Benguela Rail connecting the Shaba or Katanga region was destroyed by UNITA (Angolan Rebel movement supported by South Africa).In order mantain the vital export of minerals, Zaire-an president Mobutu decided to use again the “Voie Nationale”. Even though it comported a huge detour, it was cho-sen in order to avoid complicated political negotiations with neighbouring countries and be really self-reliant.

2 to 6 months 2.750 kmsShaba - Ilebo by railIlebo – Kinshasa by riverKinshasa - Matadi port by rail

10 days1.950 kmsKapiri Mposhi - Dar es Salaam

Zaire_“National Way”

Zambia_Great North Road or the “Hells Run” The Great North Road was built in 1915 by British army to convey British troops and supplies from Norther Rhodesia to the East African Front during WWI. Since the end of WWI, the road has rarely been used. Given its bad condition, it was also called the “Hell Run”. Depending on the weather, reaching the port of Dar es Sallam from Zambia could be extremely cost and time consuming, especially during the rainy season.

Since 1965 Rhodesia Railway between Rhodesia and Zambia was frequently blocked due to political rea-sons. To maintain the mineral industry alive Zambia had to seek an alternative route to export minerals and import oil. In 1965, Benguela railway could still be used but this option was not ideal because of the South African and Portuguese control. The “Hell Run” con-necting the Port of Dar es Salaam to the Copperbelt region was the only solution Zambia had to receive oil trucks and to transport its Copper to the sea during the Rhodesian crisis. In 1966, the U.S and the World Bank invested to improve this road, while FIAT, the Italian automobile company provided tankers. Between 1970 to 1972 the construction was completed. In those years Zambia and Tanzania tried to get fund-ing to build a railway between the two countries. Only China gave support and started working on the railway while the Americans were improving the highway.

This route was established in 1928, in order to export minerals to the Atlantic Ocean. It was named “Voie Nationale” in French. Since the opening of Benguela railway in 1933, the “National Way” stopped working as a main export route.

1966-1970

1966-1970

Traveling Time: Distance:Transfer Points:

Traveling Time: Distance:Transfer Points:

Truck Loaded on Ships on the Congo River Tank stucked on the Great North Road

Stamp of the RDC showinr rail and waterways

Trucks and passengers on the Congo River

Rhodesia Railway

Tanzam Railway

Benguela Railway

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

ZAIRE

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA

National Way TanZam

Highway

JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN


BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

KINSHASA

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

MATADI

ILEBO

LUBUMBASHI

Rhodesia Railway

Benguela Railway

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC

OF THE CONGO

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA


JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN


BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

KINSHASA

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

MATADI

ILEBO

LUBUMBASHI

Highway Africa



Tanzam Railway: “Freedom Railway” Tanzam Highway and the Trans-African HighwaysThe Tanzam Railway was built with the economic and technical support of China with a 30 years’ loan at the interest of 1% annum. The construction took 3 years, and was completed in1976. Thanks to this railway, Zambia could finally avoid the routes through the white south and the un-stable political situations of Angola and Zaire. For Zambia, who was almost running out of oil during 1975, and struggling with mineral exports, China was real saviour. The railway made Zambia almost independent and strengthened the Pan-African connection with Tanzania.

All we want to see is the railway line being built, so that we are never again dependent on the route from the south.

In the 1970s, the Economic commission for Africa (UN-ECA) started working to the Trans African Highway project. It was presented as an instrument, for the independent nation-states and for Africa, as a newly conceived identity, to improve economic integration and political unity. The whole network consisted of 59.100Km of all-weather roads, divided in 9 corridors crossing and connecting most of the African continent. The project is still in progress, there are still many missing links and complicated non-physical barrier between nations.After many discussions, the ECA decided to propose a Trans-African Highway instead of a Railway.Congo is crossed by two corridors: the Mombasa-Lagos and the Tripoli-Windhoek. Zambia is crossed by the Beira-Lobito and the Cairo-Gaborne corridors. Both of them insist on the Copperbelt region and lay on top of the existing Great North Highway.

Jan 1, 1960. Chinese leader Mao-Tse-Tung and President Nyerere of Tanza-nia. President Nyerere went to Beijing to ask funding for the Tazara railway.

July 7,1976. Handing-Over ceremony. President Kaunda of Zambia, President Julius K. Nyerere of Tanzania and Chi-nese vice premier Sun Chen.

July 7,1976. Chinese vice premier Sun Chen, with President Kaunda, President Nyerere and President Mobutu Sese Seko.

The main aspiration of president Kaunda was to make Zambia politi-cally and economically independent. This project has been an occasion for China to show its technical and eco-nomic capability to the world. Zambia demonstrated diplomatic talent but this project proved once again that foreign technology and money were essential to its survival.

Rhodesia Railway

Tanzam Railway

Benguela Railway

National Way

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC

OF THE CONGO

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA

Tanzam Highway

JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN


WINDHOEK

BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

MATADI

ILEBO

KINSHASA

LUBUMBASHI

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

1975

K.Kaunda, President of Zambia in 1976

Construction of the Tanzam RailwayRhodesia Railway

Tanzam Railway

Benguela Railway

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

ZAIRE

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA

National Way TanZam

Highway

JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN


BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

KINSHASA

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

MATADI

ILEBO

LUBUMBASHI

CENTRALAFRICAN

REPUBLIC

ZAIRE

ZAMBIA MALAWI

UGANDA

RWANDA

BURUNDI

KENYA

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

CONGO

GABON

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTHAFRICA

JOHANNESBURG

PRETORIA

DURBAN


BULAWAYO

BEIRA

LUSAKA

VICTORIA FALLS

BENGUELA

LOBITO

KINSHASA

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

KAPIRI MPOSHI

MATADI

ILEBO

LUBUMBASHI

Organization of African Unity 1963

Book Cover 1962

Highway Africa



References LITERATURE AND ARTICLESA Kessack (1970) The Tanzam Railway by Economic and political weeky, 5 (24), Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4360106Leo Zeilig, David Renton and David Renton (2007) The Congo: Plunder and Resistance, Zed Books Ltd.Londonand New YorkFernando Andresen Guimaraes (1998) The Origin of the Angolan Civil War, Macmillan Pressed Ltd.LondonW.Martin James 3 (1992) A Political History of the CIvil War in Angola 1974-1990, Transaction Publishers, New JerseyAndrew Sardanis (2014) Zambia the First 50 Years Reflections of an Eyewitness, I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd. New York.Hofmeier, R. (1979). Die Transafrikastraßen: Stand der Planung und Realisierung. Africa Spectrum, 14(1), 31-51. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40174153F.Scott Bobb(1988) Historical Dictionary of Zaire, African Historical Dictionaries, no.43, the Scarecrow Press, Inc. Metuchen, N.J. &LondonThe Guardian (2017) Kenya’s techies take on mission impossible: ending Nairobi’s traffic anarchy. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/22/nairobi-smart-traffic-light-congestion [Accessed 19 Apr. 2017].Burdette, M. (1984). The Mines, Class Power, and Foreign Policy in Zambia. Journal of Southern African Studies, 10(2), 198-218. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2636871Hance, W., & Van Dongen, I. (1956). The Port of Lobito and the Benguela Railway. Geographical Review, 46(4), 460-487. doi:10.2307/212105Katzenellenbogen, S. (1974). Zambia and Rhodesia: Prisoners of the Past: A Note on the History of Railway Politics in Central Africa. African Affairs, 73(290), 63-66. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/720981Sam Kongwa (1987) Relations between Zambia and Zaire. African Insight, 17(2), 102-106. Guy Arnold (2005) Africa A Modern History, Atlantic Books, Great Britain

REPORTSREPORT OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE TRANS-AFRICAN HIGHWAY COMMITTEE Addis Ababa, 14-18 June 1971. (1971). [Report] Addis Ababa.REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF THE TRANS AFRICAN HIGHWAYS AND THE MISSING LINKS. (2003). [Report] Stockholm, August 14th 2003.

WEBUsa.chinadaily.com.cn. (2017). S. Africa diplomat vows cooperation|Holiday Image|chinadaily.com.cn. [online] Available at: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2013-03/26/content_16345803.htm [Accessed 19 Apr. 2017].Mikes.railhistory.railfan.net. (2017). ACROSS AFRICA BY RAIL. [online] Available at: http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r011.html [Accessed 17 Apr. 2017].TAZARA. (2017). Home - TAZARA. [online] Available at: http://tazarasite.com [Accessed 19 Apr. 2017].Dlca.logcluster.org. (2017). Democratic Republic of Congo - Logistics Capacity Assessment - Wiki - Digital Logistics Capacity Assessments. [online] Available at: http://dlca.logcluster.org/display/public/DLCA/Democratic+Republic+of+Congo [Accessed 19 Apr. 2017].Ilebo, 3. (2017). 39. Zaire: Up the Congo and Kasai rivers to Ilebo. [online] Danrobison.blogspot.ch. Available at: http://danrobison.blogspot.ch/2013/08/39-zaire-up-congo-and-kasai-rivers-to.html [Accessed 19 Apr. 2017].

Page 1-2Patrice Lumumba Joseph Kasa-Vubu Mobutu Sese Seko Tschombe Members of OAU

Page 3-4Kenneth Kaunda Chinese Man with Wood Page 5-6Benguela Railway Ian Smith Benguela Sign

-8A stamp Ship with River Ship with people A petrol Truck in Mud

Page 9-10Zambia shall be Free Railway workers Mao and Nyerere Kaunda and Nyerere Kaunda, Nyerere, Mobutu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrice_Lumumba https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Kasavubu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobutu_Sese_Seko https://alchetron.com/Moise-Tshombe-799088-W http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/organisation-african-unity-oau

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kenneth-Kaundahttps://chineseposters.net/themes/tazara-railway.php

https://jp.pinterest.com/pin/537617274256986896/http://de.alamy.com/http://www.gettyimages.ch

https://www.ebay.co.uk/photographed by Dan Robison in 1982photographed by Dan Robison in 1982https://www.ebay.co.uk/

Page 9-10https://www.amazon.com/Zambia-Shall-Be-Free-Autobiography/http://www.chinadailyasia.com/http://de.alamy.com/http://de.alamy.com/http://de.alamy.com/

IMAGES

Conclusions Aim of the project was to see how the different historical and political trajectories of national inde-pendence shaped infrastructure construction.

In Particular we focused on the case of Zambia (Norther Rhodesia) and of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) between 1960s and 1980s.Zambia and Congo share the biggest copper extraction region in the world. After their independ-ence in 1960s they both had to rely on their neighboring countries in order to export copper and import the necessary goods. They also had to rely on other countries in order to get money and technology to build their transport facilities.The question we tried to answer is: how did politic shape the design of infrastructure in this specific context?

-President Mobutu of Zaire was taking advantage of international aid especially from CIA who financed his tyranny for 30 years. The money he got from foreign aid were mainly used for his own interests-President Kaunda of Zambia, on the other side, was pursuing his aspiration of pan-Africanisms and self-reliance. He tried to make his country rich and developed. Infrastructures were for him a necessary tool to achieve these objectives.-UNITA’s railway destruction during Angolan civil war and Rhodesia blockage right after UDI are other examples of how infrastructure can be used as a blackmailing tool against enemies’ interests.

We can conclude that transport infrastructures are the materialization of power relations. Some-times, like in the case of the rich Copper belt region, the interests involved are hard to trace and they can involve powers at the global scale.

Future development of this research should try to understand:-After the Tanzam railway, China worked on many infrastructure projects in Africa. Can we consid-er Chinese Aid as a form of neo-colonialist and imperialist tool? - How did the situation of Zambia and Congo export-import route develop since the 1980s? Does Zambia still use the Tazara railway to export minerals? Or is it using the TanZam highway? Or, after the end of apartheid, did they use more intensively the old Rhodesia railway?-Congo is crossed by the corridor 8 of the trans-African highway. The corridor is connecting Lagos to Mombasa through the north of Congo. This road has never been built. Why? Is the project still ongoing? -Urban population of Africa has been growing very fast in the last 50 years. What is the potential of transport infrastructure in term of development of rural areas?

The research is based on existing literature, reports and articles. For more details see the Bibliography

New Highway Africa The Politics of Infrastructure Giulia Scotto, … · 2018. 4. 13. · Zambia...

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