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Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) continues to experience high incidence of vandalism and theft of key infrastructure with the State rail firm managing to recover property worth over US$123 000 while 123 individuals have been arrested this year.
NRZ reportedly lost over US$3,6 million between 2018 and 2019 to theft and vandalism of its rail infrastructure.
General manager Ms Respina Zinyanduko told this publication that her organisation relentlessly fights against all forms of vandalism leading to regular arrest and conviction of perpetrators caught breaking the law on the firm’s properties.
“We cannot fold our hands and watch criminals wreaking havoc against the institution as by doing so, we would have repudiated our mandate as envisaged by the NDS 1 (National Development Strategy 1),” she said.
The bulk freight transporter is strategic to the country’s economic development programmes as it facilitates the movement of cargo and in line with the National Development Strategy 1, NRZ is expected to play a critical role in the transportation of raw materials and finished goods.
“We have capacitated the loss control and security branch and our efforts are actually paying off. For the past decades NRZ has lost millions of dollars to crimes targeted against its infrastructure. In 2022 alone, the NRZ has recovered property worth over US$123 000 and 123 people have been arrested system wide,” she said.
Ms Zinyanduko said six people arrested in the southern region for vandalising the entity’s electrical and signal property were given a mandatory 10-year sentence while four others have also been arrested in the Midlands region receiving sentences ranging from six to 10 years effectively.
In the eastern region, six other criminals were convicted receiving mandatory sentences ranging between five and 10 years.
She cited two recent convictions being Freedom Ncube who was arrested by the NRZ loss control department in Beitbridge for vandalising electrical and signal equipment and was convicted and sentenced to effective 10 years on August 29 while Moreeffort Kupamba who vandalised electrical wires in Harare was also convicted and sentenced to effective 10 years on September 9 2022.
“Eight criminals were shot during the anti-vandalism blitz and two cases were fatal as the criminals were very aggressive and dangerous despite being given warning shots.
“We really thank the Judiciary for the stance it is taking against such cases though we are advocating for revised stiffer sentences from our legislators as the criminals are no longer deterred by the current sentences.
“Moreso, half of the criminals being given bail are defaulting thus exposing NRZ to repeat crimes by the same criminals ” said Mrs Zinyanduko.
“Recently in Harare 16 criminals were arrested after stealing ballast from the mainline in Macheke loading into their Iveco truck.
“The cycle unit security guard who was on surveillance followed them and liaised with the police leading to their arrest.”
A total of 10 villagers in Murerezi area in Zvishavane have also been arrested in the past two months for removing fist fasteners, pins and concrete sleepers and rails from the mainline with the intent to make foul runs, rabbit cages and tsotso stoves.
Five of the accused persons were denied bail and their cases have been referred to regional courts. The NRZ Railways Act Chapter 13:09 is being applied against all vandals and thus criminals are receiving heavy sentences.
Meanwhile, Ms Zinyanduko said during the recently completed restructuring exercise, NRZ has capacitated and rebranded the loss control department introducing a cycle unit, drone surveillance unit, informant floats as well as integrating security strategies into the organisational policies and introducing vehicles for supervision as well as reactions.
“Awareness campaigns are being conducted in hot spot areas and this has assisted in dealing with rampant cases in the parastatal.
“The capacitation of the branch has not only assisted on vandalism cases but it has even assisted us to eliminate fuel thefts from our locomotives.We have reduced fuel consumption from 1,8 million litres to 1 million litres consumption per month for the same tonnage and kilometres during peak period,” she said.
Online Reporter