Online Reporter
Trust Freddy-Herald Correspondent
The much-anticipated National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) leisure train completed its inaugural journey yesterday, pulling into Mutare station at 5.10pm.
This comes barely 24 hours after the maiden 30-minute Air Zimbabwe flight from Harare, which touched down at Grand Reef Airport in Mutare on Saturday, marking a major milestone in preparations for the upcoming Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo, which begins this Wednesday.
Members of the public, media and staff from the Ministry of Transport, Tourism, and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) were all on board to celebrate this historic occasion.
The train, which departed Harare at 7.12am, traversed the scenic landscapes of the country, making brief stops at Marondera, Rusape, Headlands and Odzi. To ensure travellers get the full experience of the breathtaking views, the train was travelling at a leisurely maximum speed of 35 kilometres per hour, though it can move at a maximum speed of 90km per hour.
The train’s arrival marks the culmination of a scenic trip that began in Harare and saw it make a series of short stops along the way.
Following its initial pause in Marondera, where passengers enjoyed a stretch and a browse, the train continued its eastward trek.
The locomotive made subsequent stops in Rusape and Headlands, where it picked up additional passengers keen to join the special trip to Mutare. It also included a brief halt in Odzi, allowing travellers to further soak in the beauty of Manicaland’s landscapes.
Upon its arrival, the train was welcomed by a high-profile delegation, including the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi; Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Joshua Sacco; Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland Province, Advocate Misheck Mugadza and the newly-appointed NRZ board chairman, Dr Misheck Sibanda.
The inaugural trip marks a major milestone in preparations for the upcoming Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo, which begins this Wednesday.
The expo aims to promote the country as a top tourism destination while exploring sustainable ways to expand the industry and will run under the theme “Devolving Sustainable Tourism Development – Our Future”.
The special rail service is a collaborative effort between the NRZ, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
In her speech, Minister Rwodzi fired back at critics of the leisure train on social media, asserting that development will forge ahead, undeterred by detractors.
“Let no one move us by comparing our inaugural leisure train to those in Western countries that have imposed illegal sanctions on our nation. I can assure you, we are building ‘brick by brick, stone upon stone’, and we are well on our way to a world-class leisure train. It will soon be fitted with leather seats and everything else you can think of and in doing so, we will shame our detractors.”
She also revealed that there was a surge in last-minute bookings from exhibitors, who had initially hesitated to participate in the Expo.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, who was being represented by his Deputy Sacco said the train opens new horizons for travellers.
“This initiative is more than just a means of transport. It’s an invitation to relive the golden age of train travel, to connect with the breathtaking landscapes of our country and to begin the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi Expo experience the moment you step on board the train. This is a welcome development for Manicaland, as we also saw the introduction of flights, with Air Zimbabwe flying into Mutare once again.”
Mutare City Town Clerk, Mr Blessing Chafesuka, who boarded the train at Headlands in Nyazura, described the journey as the most wonderful experience.
