By Desire Tshuma
HARARE — Zimbabwe’s rail freight capacity received a major boost on Thursday after the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) commissioned three locomotives and 100 high-sided wagons refurbished under a US$2.8 million partnership with ferrochrome producer ZIMASCO.
The new rolling stock is expected to ease freight bottlenecks, accelerate the movement of chrome to regional ports and give NRZ a much-needed revenue boost as the struggling railway operator pushes ahead with recapitalisation.
The locomotives and wagons were commissioned at NRZ’s Harare Station at a ceremony officiated by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona.
Mhona said the project demonstrated the potential of public-private partnerships to mobilise investment into critical infrastructure while supporting Zimbabwe’s mining and export sectors.
“It is indeed a great honour and privilege to address you all on this milestone occasion as we commission 100 high-sided wagons and three locomotives, refurbished through a strategic Public-Private Partnership valued at US$2.8 million between the National Railways of Zimbabwe and ZIMASCO,” he said.
The minister said the additional rolling stock would help reduce bottlenecks in the logistics chain by improving the movement of ZIMASCO’s chrome products to regional ports.
He said the arrangement would also provide NRZ with additional revenue while making the transportation of Zimbabwean mineral exports more predictable and competitive.
Mhona said rail transport remained critical to the country’s mining and industrial sectors because of its ability to move large volumes of freight efficiently.
“A fully functional railway network is not a luxury but a necessity for achieving Vision 2030 of an Upper-Middle-Income Economy,” he said.
The minister said Government was pursuing a broader recapitalisation programme for NRZ involving track rehabilitation, signalling upgrades and the acquisition of additional rolling stock.
He said the programme included leveraging an African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) facility, a Resource Finance Investment model with China Railway International Group and bilateral Government-to-Government engagements.
Mhona also cited the US$10 million rehabilitation of the Chikwalakwala-Phuntre and Machipanda-Harare railway lines as part of efforts to restore the country’s rail network.
He commended Mutapa Investment Fund chief executive officer Dr J.P. Mangudya, NRZ board chairperson Dr M.M. Sibanda and the NRZ board and management for advancing the commercialisation of the railway entity.
Declaring the refurbished rolling stock ready for operations, Mhona said Government would continue supporting partnerships aimed at restoring NRZ’s capacity.
“It is now my singular honour and privilege to declare the refurbished NRZ-ZIMASCO PPP locomotives and wagons officially commissioned and ready for service,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by Mines and Mining Development permanent secretary Dr T.U. Wushe, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee chairperson T. Karikoga, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mutapa Investment Fund chief executive officer Dr J. Mangudya, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, and representatives of the NRZ and ZIMASCO boards.