Looks like another possible future transportation link for AVZ Manono is being upgraded.
Tanzania: Bank to Pay for U.S.$600Million Railway From Dar to DRC 6 November 2017
The World Bank is set to unlock $600 million for an infrastructure project to facilitate trade in East and Central Africa and provide an alternative route to the sea for Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"We are talking about improving infrastructure along the Central Corridor, specifically Lake Tanganyika," said East Africa Community Secretary General Liberat Mfumukeko.
It will improve the transportation of goods coming from Dar es Salaam by railway to Kigoma, from where "it can be shipped to Bujumbura or Kalemi and Uvira. This project will improve infrastructure in Tanzania, Burundi and DR Congo," he added.
I've marked in all the relevant spots. Railway to Kigoma, ferry to Kalemie. Kalemie is 250km north east of Manono. I've also marked down Luambo in the DRC from where the road is being built to Manono as well as the Katanga regional capital Lubambashi.
An interesting read on this former German railway line ending in Kigoma is found here.
According to Wikipedia 'Today’s railservices are offered by the Tanzania Railways Corporation. The timetable offers three passenger services per week in each direction covering the whole length of the line. A trip from Dar es Salam to Kigoma takes approximately 40 hours today according to the timetable. The long time of travel is due to the poor state of the railway’s infrastructure, which originates to a large extent still from the German colonial times.
Finally, seems like the Chinese are springing into action yet again.
China ready to lobby for railway construction funds 02 December 2017
THE Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Wang Ke, yesterday promised that her government is ready to convince various financial institutions, including Exim Bank to participate in the construction of central line railway after completion of the feasibility study.
“Already the project has started from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, therefore, the intervention of China is warmly welcomed, because it will help to finish the project on time,” he said.
