Maritime information about Zambia: a landlocked country with strategic waterways
Maritime geographic context and river access of Zambia
Zambia is a landlocked country located in central-southern Africa, with no direct access to the sea. This means it does not have a maritime coastline and therefore no international seaport on the sea. However, it relies on its internal river system and port infrastructure located on significant rivers, notably the Zambezi River, which is a crucial axis for domestic and regional freight transport. The Zambezi River flows through several countries, originating in Zambia and heading towards the Indian Ocean via Mozambique. Zambia thus uses these waterways for its commercial exchanges, despite its geographic landlocked status. This situation causes the country to heavily depend on land corridors and international agreements for its maritime imports and exports via the ports of neighboring countries such as Mozambique and Tanzania.
Inland maritime infrastructure focuses mainly on river and lake navigation, with ports located on bodies of water such as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Kariba, the latter being an artificial reservoir on the Zambezi. These inland ports support passenger and freight transport but remain limited in capacity and scope compared to traditional maritime ports. The topography and seasonality of the watercourses also influence the accessibility and navigability of Zambian waterways.
Zambia has developed regional partnerships to facilitate indirect maritime transport through international port infrastructures accessible via rail or road, actively participating in regional and continental logistics chains.
Economic and strategic role of inland waterways in Zambia
The role of inland waterways in Zambia is major for the country's economy, mainly in transporting raw materials, notably minerals which constitute a significant part of national exports. River transport on the Zambezi allows these resources to be moved to transshipment points or to neighboring countries with maritime access. This dynamic is essential to maintaining the competitiveness of the Zambian mining sector on the international market.
Moreover, river and lake navigation contributes to the development of rural areas, facilitating market access for isolated populations. The Zambian government invests in modernizing inland port infrastructure and navigation safety to maximize the potential of these waterways.
Challenges remain important, notably in terms of waterway maintenance, port equipment modernization, and regional coordination. However, Zambia fully exploits its geographic position to benefit from river corridors, while relying on regional partnerships for access to international maritime ports, which is crucial for its foreign trade and integration into the global market.
