Rutendo Nyeve-Victoria Falls Bureau
THE National Railways of Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to rebuild its freight capacity through infrastructure rehabilitation, fleet refurbishment and private-sector partnerships that are expected to bring additional locomotives and wagons into service.
Speaking on behalf of NRZ Acting Chief Executive Officer Mrs Ainah Dube-Kaguru at the Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking (ZIST) Annual Conference in Victoria Falls yesterday, Harare Regional Manager Mr Joshua Mhandire said the parastatal is aligning its infrastructure and logistics upgrades with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.
He reported that rehabilitation works on the Mutare-Harare railway line have reached 80 percent completion, while the Machipanda-Beira upgrade in Mozambique and the Machipanda-Mutare rehabilitation project have been completed and commissioned.
The Plumtree-Dabuka-Chicualacuala line, being developed under a tripartite cooperation agreement between Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique, is 35 percent complete.
“These developments are expected to boost economic growth by reducing transport costs and connecting the SADC region, transforming it from being landlocked to land-linked,” Mr Mhandire said while reading Mrs Dube-Kaguru’s remarks.
To address historical rolling stock shortages, NRZ has secured several Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). The parastatal has deployed three locomotives and 100 wagons under a US$2,8 million deal with Zimasco, while plans are underway to release two locomotives and 120 fuel tankers funded by another partner.
A separate agreement with Grand Railway Solutions to service Dinson traffic is expected to provide 21 locomotives and 1 200 wagons, alongside infrastructure upgrades, targeting the movement of 1,7 million tonnes of coal, ferrochrome, pig iron and steel.
NRZ has also partnered with Mixcorp Legacy to provide three locomotives and 100 wagons for coal transportation.
Alongside these private-sector deals, NRZ is implementing an internal recapitalisation programme. Three locomotives are undergoing refurbishment under a US$3 million facility, while 520 wagons have been earmarked for refurbishment through a US$6 million Mutapa Investment Fund facility.
“Procurement of 10 locomotives, 315 wagons and infrastructure upgrades is underway under the Afrex US$115 million facility,” the statement noted, adding that negotiations are ongoing for a proposed US$600 million medium-term financing package with China Railway International Group.
To improve cross-border transit times and wagon turnaround, NRZ is implementing a Through Working Strategy along the Beira, Maputo and Botswana corridors in partnership with Mozambique’s Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) and Botswana Railways.
Mrs Dube-Kaguru noted that a single 25-wagon train carries the equivalent of 33 trucks, each with a 30-tonne capacity, easing pressure on national highways and reducing transport-related emissions.
On passenger services, NRZ reintroduced the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls train in October last year to support domestic travel and tourism.
The parastatal is appealing for continued policy and financial support from the Government and the Mutapa Investment Fund to drive further rolling stock expansion and digital transformation.
