PPPs bear fruit for NRZ

Sikhulekelani Moyo

Zimpapers Business Hub

PUBLIC-PRIVATE partnerships (PPPs) are bearing fruit, with the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) exploring initiatives under the arrangement to improve its operations.

The Government is actively pursuing various PPP initiatives in other key sectors, which have yielded positive results in the country’s development.

The initiative has seen development in infrastructure, agriculture, and other critical projects that include the empowerment of women and youth.

In his presentation during the recently held Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ) annual conference in Bulawayo, NRZ Southern Region manager Mr Joshua Mhandire said Zimbabwe was at the heart of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), making the country a vital logistics hub, saying that the revitalisation of rail will help to improve competitiveness and trade across the region.

He also said this would see an improved volume and promote employment creation.

“We have partnered with some of our customers in revitalising some of our assets, and NRZ is set to release five locomotives from PPP arrangements, two have already been released, and three are a work in progress,” said Mr Mhandire.

“We have also released 100 wagons and 100 fuel tankers funded by our customers.

“On locos and wagons we have Zimsco and on tankers we have African Rail Company (ARC) and Strauss Logistics.”

Mr Mhandire said the rail company had also embraced some private investors, and had lease agreements with TFR and Sheltam of South Africa to augment NRZ’s capacity.

He said the implementation of the Beira, Maputo, and Botswana corridors with Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) and Botswana Rail (BR) significantly improved transit times and turnaround capacity.