The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has received a significant boost to its freight capacity, thanks to a US$2.4 million injection from mining giant Zimasco under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. This crucial investment aims to revitalize the country’s railway transport system and aligns with the Government’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) drive to strengthen private sector collaboration.
The partnership has facilitated the refurbishment of three locomotives and 100 wagons, work that was carried out at NRZ’s Bulawayo Mechanical Workshops. The refurbished rolling stock is set to be officially commissioned on Thursday at Harare Station. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance NRZ’s operational capacity, particularly for transporting Zimasco’s mineral commodities like chrome and ferrochrome.
Key Players Involved
- National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ): Beneficiary of the investment, responsible for the refurbishment work and operating the enhanced freight capacity.
- Zimasco: Mining giant that provided the US$2.4 million funding for critical spares and consumables.
- Minister Felix Mhona: Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister who lauded the initiative as a key step towards restoring NRZ’s capacity.
Event Timeline
- August 2023: The first wagon entered the workshop for refurbishment.
- January 2024: Work on the first locomotive commenced.
- January 28, 2026: The last locomotive refurbishment was completed.
- September 16, 2026: News of the US$2.4 million boost and upcoming commissioning was reported.
- Thursday, September 17, 2026: Official commissioning of the refurbished locomotives and wagons at Harare Station.
