Harare, (New Ziana) – The government has been urged to urgently revive the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) to reduce the alarming spike in road traffic accidents across the country.
This call was made by the President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe (SCIAZ), Sheikh Ishmail Duwa, during a panel discussion on road safety awareness in Harare. Sheikh Duwa said the continued rise in traffic accidents is largely due to overcrowding and poor public transport systems, especially in urban centres like Harare.
He emphasized the need to restore NRZ operations to help de-congest the capital and reduce pressure on the roads. “Government should now revive NRZ and see if this can continue where people are everywhere, even when there’s no bus stop,” said Sheikh Duwa.
The panel discussion, organised by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) in partnership with Zimpapers’ The Sunday Mail, brought together bus operators, government officials, transport organisations, and conductors to share insights and propose solutions to address the growing road carnage.
The event comes amid a sharp increase in road accidents, with many lives being lost. According to the TSCZ, 94% of road traffic accidents are caused by human error. Sheikh Duwa also raised concerns over the lack of responsibility among some bus operators who fail to properly service their vehicles before putting them on the road.
“You can see some people hanging on the bumpers and wonder why one is not even in his senses. That poses a serious risk,” he added. He urged government and law enforcement agencies to inspect public buses and investigate both drivers and operators for possible drug and substance abuse.
Duwa further stressed that inspections should go beyond drugs, warning that public transport systems could also be used for human trafficking if not properly monitored. A particularly tragic example underscoring the urgency of these issues was the recent accident at Hunyani Bridge in Chitungwiza’s Seke area, which claimed 17 lives.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) also raised concern about the rising number of hit-and-run incidents. Between January and June 2025, Zimbabwe recorded a higher number of road accidents compared to the same period in 2024.
In response to these concerns, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Joshua Sacco, acknowledged the importance of reviving NRZ. He explained that while the recapitalisation now falls under the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF), his ministry remains committed to seeing NRZ restored.
“Recapitalisation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe now falls under Mutapa, but as my ministry is responsible for that policy, we are very keen on NRZ being recapitalised so that we begin to note the changes again,” said Sacco.
The MIF recently announced a phased revival plan for NRZ, with an initial investment of $7–10 million. The plan includes short-term repairs and leasing, medium-term operational improvements, and a long-term transformation aimed at strengthening Zimbabwe’s logistics system while easing pressure on the roads.
New Ziana
