A fresh scramble for Africa is happening right inside central Zambia, and the small town of Kapiri Mposhi has suddenly become the hot spot. China, the US, and Japan are all racing to control key transport corridors that link to the Copperbelt, one of the world’s richest sources of minerals needed for the green energy transition. Whoever controls these supply routes may decide who wins the future of clean energy.
Kapiri Mposhi is now at the center of three powerful projects: China’s Tazara Railway, the US-backed Lobito Corridor, and Japan’s Nacala Corridor. Each of them is designed to move copper and other minerals from Zambia and the DRC to global markets. To secure its position, Zambia is already talking with Chinese firms about building a big dry port in Kapiri, which could make the town the main logistics hub of the Copperbelt.
China, which built the original Tazara Railway in the 1970s, is now investing $1.4 billion to modernize it under a 30-year concession. This ensures Beijing maintains long-term influence, regardless of what the US or Japan do. Japan, on its part, has committed fresh funds to the Nacala Corridor, seeking to link Zambian minerals more directly to Asia. Meanwhile, the US and its European allies are putting money into the Lobito Corridor to reduce global dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains.
For economists, the real battle is about influence. Whoever builds and controls these railways and ports will shape not just how minerals move, but also how much bargaining power African governments will have. Experts warn that Zambia and its neighbors must choose wisely: these corridors can either continue the trend of shipping raw minerals abroad or become tools to demand local processing, jobs, and lasting economic growth.
At the end of the day, Kapiri Mposhi represents more than just a railway junction. It is the frontline of global competition and also Africa’s chance to rewrite its place in the green economy.
