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The National Railways of Zimbabwe requires US$2 billion for the full rehabilitation of railway lines over a period of 10 years, the parastatal’s public relations officer has said.Speaking at the Harare Agricultural Show yesterday Mr Fanuel Masikati said: “For us to have a complete rehabilitation of our railway lines over a period of 10 years, we need US$2 billion but US$400 million is needed in the short to medium term,”he said.
He said this year Government allocated the NRZ US$9 million for railway lines rehabilitation. “We are grateful because Government has also been assisting us for the past years. This year, we were allocated US$9 million for the rehabilitation of infrastructure,” he said.
He said the operations of NRZ depended on the performance of industry.
“We are the backbone of the Zimbabwean transport system since we are linked to all sectors such as mining and agriculture. Our business depends on the performance of the industry — if the economy is depressed we are negatively affected,” he said.
“Currently we are working on a small-scale and we are in partnership with private companies to finance the refurbishment of fuel tankers,” he said. “So far we have finished rehabilitating railway lines from Bulawayo to Harare, Harare to Mutare and Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, among others.
“Here at the Agricultural Show we are exhibiting to our customers and the nation as a whole to assure them that we will deliver standard services. Re-building of our infrastructure is our key to safety,” he said.
The NRZ had since deposited US$2,9 million to purchase 14 locomotives from China.
Online Reporter