By Eamonn Ryan
Mozambique is preparing to overhaul its rail sector by opening access to its state-owned railway network to private operators, a move aimed at improving efficiency, increasing freight volumes and lowering logistics costs across the country.
slonpics
The proposed reform represents one of the most significant shifts in Mozambique’s transport policy in recent years and reflects a growing recognition that greater competition is needed to unlock the full potential of the country’s freight corridors.
Speaking during a meeting in Maputo with the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA), Transport and Logistics Minister João Matlombe said the government intends to separate infrastructure management from rail operations, creating opportunities for multiple operators to utilise the national rail network.
Under the proposed model, the state-owned Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM) would retain responsibility for managing and maintaining rail infrastructure, while private companies would be allowed to operate freight services on the network.
According to reports from Lusa and Club of Mozambique, the reform forms part of a broader strategy to increase the utilisation of rail infrastructure while reducing the heavy reliance on road transport.
Matlombe argued that introducing competition into the sector was essential if Mozambique hoped to improve logistics performance and strengthen economic growth. “Our approach to logistics is clear: you cannot run logistics with a monopoly. We have consulted widely and will open up access to the railways to different stakeholders,” he said.
He added that Mozambique is closely monitoring developments in South Africa, where efforts to introduce greater private-sector participation in rail operations have progressed further.
“The monopoly and inefficiency are damaging our economy, and we must carry out a structural reform within the sector. Only then will we break this monopoly and address the inefficiency we are constantly experiencing,” Matlombe said.
The proposal has received strong support from the private sector, which has long argued that transport costs remain a major obstacle to economic competitiveness. CTA president Álvaro Massingue said excessive logistics costs, lengthy transit times and uncompetitive tariffs were reducing the effectiveness of regional transport corridors and encouraging cargo owners to favour road transport over rail.
According to Massingue, rail should play a far greater role in moving long-distance freight, helping to lower logistics costs, ease pressure on road infrastructure and improve the competitiveness of Mozambique’s trade routes.
He also called for the creation of a National Logistics Competitiveness Strategy and said a more integrated and digitally enabled transport system could strengthen Mozambique’s position as a regional logistics gateway.
The government’s plans come at a time when rail freight volumes are already showing positive momentum. Official figures indicate that Mozambique’s rail network transported 3.6 million tonnes of freight during the first quarter of the year, representing growth of almost 15% compared with the same period in 2025.
Mozambique’s rail system currently consists of three separate networks in the southern, central and northern regions of the country, connecting key ports with neighbouring South Africa, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.
Looking ahead, the government is also pursuing longer-term infrastructure ambitions. Earlier this year, authorities approved the creation of a dedicated investment office tasked with advancing plans for a north-south rail corridor that would link the country’s fragmented rail systems. The project is expected to take approximately eight years to complete and is viewed as a critical step towards creating a more integrated national transport network.
If implemented successfully, the planned liberalisation of rail operations could mark a major turning point for Mozambique’s logistics sector, helping to attract investment, improve service levels and strengthen the country’s role as a regional trade and transport hub.