The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Farawo – Sunday Mail Reporter
Engineers have completed feasibility studies on the proposed Harare-Mutare railway line and three major road dualisation projects under infrastructure development agreements between Zimbabwe and China.
Government has also made a down-payment for new locomotives.
Railway construction and dualisation of the Beitbridge-Chirundu, Harare-Chirundu and Harare-Nyamapanda highways are scheduled to begin “as soon as possible”, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu told The Sunday Mail.
The new railway line is expected to reduce the cost of transporting goods between the two cities, and turn around the fortunes of the National Railways of Zimbabwe.
At its peak, NRZ carried 18 million tonnes of cargo and nearly 20 million passengers yearly, while employing more than 7 000 workers. However, the parastatal’s capacity plummeted due to ageing equipment, only managing to transport 3,8 million tonnes and five million tonnes of cargo in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
About US$400 million is required in the short to medium-term to upgrade railway infrastructure, which stretches over 2 670km.
Dr Mpofu said the initiative – which also includes rehabilitating existing railway equipment – will be rolled out over four years.
“We have already paid a deposit for the locomotives from China and also submitted project proposals to the Ministry of Finance.”
The three identified highways will be prioritised ahead of other road rehabilitation projects due to their huge trade value.
Beitbridge Border Post is Africa’s busiest inland port, accounting for 30 000 travellers and over 2 500 private vehicles daily during peak periods.
Haulage trucks from countries north of Zimbabwe also transit into South Africa via this port, while 500 vehicles pass through Chirundu Border Post daily.
Dr Mpofu said Chinese firms would finance all projects under a build-operate-transfer arrangement and revenue generated will repay the funds.
“Major road dualisation is expected to start as soon as possible under BOT, and most funding will come from China.
“The recent trip (by President Mugabe to China) has assisted in unlocking funding.
“Most roads are carrying goods they are not supposed to carry. So, rehabilitation of the rail network will lessen the burden.
“Using railways will also ensure transporting goods becomes cheaper and reduce production costs. And obviously, there will be massive job-creation.”
Addressing a Business Breakfast Meeting hosted by The Herald Business in Harare on Wednesday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said it was unfortunate the rail network had been allowed “to go to the dogs”.
He said rehabilitating this sector would greatly reduce the cost of moving goods, which would have a knock-on effect on prices.
