GOLFERS from across the country gathered at Lugalo Golf Club on Sunday as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) marked its 50th anniversary with a tournament promoting sport, networking and awareness of the historic railway.

The event formed part of activities commemorating five decades since TAZARA began operations on July 14, 1976, bringing together golfers, business leaders, government officials and railway stakeholders.

TAZARA Managing Director Bruno Ching’andu said the tournament was designed to celebrate the railway’s legacy while using sport as a platform to connect with the public.

“We wanted an event that brings people together and raises awareness about TAZARA—where it has come from and where it is going,” he said.

 “Golf attracts people from different sectors of society, making it an ideal platform for that engagement.”

Ching’andu said the anniversary celebrations also align with TAZARA’s ongoing revitalisation programme, which aims to modernise railway infrastructure, introduce new locomotives and wagons, and boost freight capacity to more than two million tonnes annually.

He expressed confidence that the Public-Private Partnership project, to be implemented by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, would transform TAZARA into a commercially sustainable railway and strengthen regional trade links between Tanzania and Zambia.

Beyond competition on the course, the tournament offered participants a chance to reflect on one of Africa’s most iconic railway projects while strengthening ties between the sporting community and the transport sector.

The golf event is among several activities lined up ahead of TAZARA’s official golden jubilee celebration on July 14.

Lugalo Golf Club  captain Samwel  Mosha said TAZARA’s inclusion of golf in its anniversary programme reflects the sport’s growing popularity in Tanzania.

He noted that both TAZARA and golf share a common role in bringing people together from diverse backgrounds.

“TAZARA has served people for 50 years, and golf is also a people’s game,” he said. “By featuring golf in its golden jubilee, TAZARA is recognising and celebrating the growth of the sport,” he said.