Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has resumed movement of cargo via the Rutenga-Sango railway line after successful completion of repair work on the line.
This resumption follows an over 2-week hiatus after heavy rains precipitated flash floods that damaged a section of the railway line foundation in the Makambe area in Chikombedzi.
The damage affected a stretch of the line from the 315km to the 319km peg which falls under the Gandanyemba-Makambe block.
NRZ suspended movement of cargo after one of the rail operator’s coal-laden trains derailed on the damaged section.
NRZ immediately started effecting repairs to make the line trafficable as it is a vital link for moving cargo between Zimbabwe and Mozambique’s port of Maputo.
The line mainly transports the country’s coal and chrome to the global market via Maputo.
NRZ spokesperson Mr Andrew Kunambura on Sunday confirmed reopening of the Rutenga-Sango line to railway traffic.
“The line (Rutenga-Sango) was reopened today(Sunday) at 1am after completion of all the repair work,”said Mr Kunambura.
During the derailment along the Rutenga-Sango railway line on Christmas Eve, some NRZ wagons were also damaged but they have since been repaired.
The Rutenga-Sango line is set for a major overhaul under the impending Ponto Techobanine Railway project, a tri-nation initiative that will upgrade and create rail link starting from Botswana, via Zimbabwe enroute to a deep sea dry port at Techobanine in the Indian Ocean.
