Zimbabwe's Railways Get a Boost from Private Investors
In a bid to revive its struggling freight operations, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has opened its doors to private companies. This move comes after years of underinvestment, which saw freight volumes plummet from 12 million tons in the 1990s to just under 3 million tons today.
The decline was not just due to worn-out trains and tracks, but also the collapse of Zimbabwe's agricultural and mining sectors after the controversial land reforms in 2000. However, with the mining sector now on the upswing, driven by demand for minerals like chrome and lithium, NRZ is keen to cash in.
To meet the growing demand, NRZ has partnered with private players like Grindrod, a South African company that has brought in three locomotives and 150 wagons to supplement NRZ's fleet.
Zimbabwe's Railways Get a Boost from Private Investors
This collaboration is expected to help NRZ fill the gap in rail transport and get its freight operations back on track.
As NRZ spokesperson Andrew Kunambura put it, “Private companies are coming in with their own trains and wagons to help us meet the demand. Last year, we moved 2.8 million tons of freight, but we had the capacity to do more. This partnership will help us do just that.”
Raylton Sports Club Manager Dupes NRZ
This move is a significant step forward for NRZ and could signal a turnaround for the struggling state-owned railway operator. With private investment pouring in, Zimbabwe's rail network might just get the boost it needs to become a key player in the region's freight industry once again.
