Online Reporter
The Herald, 13 November 1999
WORK on the long- awaited Harare – Chitungwiza commuter railway is set to start soon following yesterday’s launch of the $3,04 billion project in Chitungwiza.
Equipment and other components needed have already been manufactured and assembled by the National Railways of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Hundreds of new jobs will be created by the railway expected to end transport problems between Harare and its largest dormitory town.
The National Railways of Zimbabwe and the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Railway Company will collaborate on the railway which is being built on a build operate and transfer basis.
BBR recently completed working on the Beitbridge to Bulawayo railway line that helped cut the distance between the two towns by rail. Before that line was built trains used the winding route through Rutenga.
“The provision of rail facilities, complemented by appropriately designed investment incentives, will effectively enable utilisation of the full industrial capacity of the Chitungwiza industrial zone thus benefiting the people of this city.”
“Present passenger inconveniences, through long hours of waiting in queues and congestion, are going to be a thing of the past. “Trains will be run on proper timetables, enabling passengers to plan their journeys,” said the Minister of Transport and Energy, Cde Enos Chikowore in Chitungwiza yesterday.
Besides NRZ and BBR, ministries of Transport and Energy and Local Government and National Housing, Harare and Chitungwiza municipalities are expected to take active roles.
The NRZ is expected to provide technical expertise, design standards and some of the equipment needed. It will also provide labour, locomotives and coaches. Harare and Chitungwiza municipalities will also provide land on which the line will be built and the two towns will also be required to make an undertaking that future development plans will not have negative effects on the long term viability of the railway.
