Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Fortious Nhambura
15 June 2009
Harare — ZIMBABWE, widely regarded as Sadc's epicentre of railway networks, is working on its railway line network to minimise running time and meet emerging regional economic and trade dynamics.
Zimbabwe is also seeking to ensure that the system does not constrain regional trade.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Secretary in the Ministry Mr Patson Mbiriri at the official opening of the 28th Southern African Railways Association board meeting in Harare last week, Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche said emerging economic opportunities now require an efficient railway system.
He said conscious of the implications of occupying a central geographical position in the region, Zimbabwe would continue to scout for funding in order to construct more rail links that have a regional flair in nature.
"Following years of economic misfortunes, the National Railways of Zimbabwe system is in no doubt in bad state. This is more so given that Zimbabwe is the region's hub and for this reason Government is trying to work out the best restructuring options.
"The process has to take time, as any mistakes will have far regional implications.
"It is for this reason that consultations are being carefully carried out giving adequate regard to lessons drawn from experiences elsewhere," he said.
Minister Goche said it was critical that improvements be carried out to shorten the running time on the country railway lines as they form an integral part of the North-South corridor.
The corridor runs from Victoria Falls to Beitbridge to link South African ports and also from Chiqualaquala and Machipanda to link to Mozambican ports.
"It is through this corridor that any bulk cargo can be moved from and to countries in the South and the North. The shorter and more fluid this corridor is, the more competitive on the world markets the regional products become.
"In recognition of the need to shorten this corridor, Government awarded a 30-year Built-Operate-Transfer concession to New Limpopo Projects Investments to construct a new rail line to link Beitbridge and Bulawayo direct through West Nicholson where the NRZ line ended.
"Through the Public Private Sector Partnerships programme up to 10 locomotives and over 1 000 wagons have been brought back into service since the inception of the programme," he said.
Minister Goche appealed to SARA to quicken the fulfillment of the Sadc Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology which seeks to achieve a flawless, integrated and cost effective seamless rail transport system as railway remained the cheapest mode of transport.
SARA is made up of the railway organisations from Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Swaziland, DRC and Malawi among others.
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