LUSAKA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A senior Zambian government official on Thursday said the government has secured about 3.3 million U.S. dollars for recapitalization of the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) railway line.

       Frank Tayali, the Minister of Transport and Logistics said the funds will help the company to repair various pieces of rolling stock in order to enhance business.

       The minister said in a release that the funds were in addition to 1.9 million dollars secured earlier this year for the rehabilitation of Chambeshi Railway Bridge situated between the towns of Kapiri Mposhi and Kasama.

       The bridge suffered major damages from an accident that occurred on May 13, 2021, resulting in the disruption of train movements between the two towns.

       According to the minister, the bridge was expected to come back into full operation by July this year, adding that the strategic move by the government was largely targeted toward making TAZARA into a self-sustaining firm.

       The TAZARA railway line, which runs between Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia, was built with Chinese aid in the 1970s.

       It was meant to serve as the main outlet to the sea for Zambia's export at a time when southern Africa was facing political upheaval.