Bulawayo, (New Ziana)- The heavy rains that the country is receiving have severely impacted the operations of the National Railways of Zimbabwe, with several rail lines being washedout and significantly affecting cargo transportation.
In a statement, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) said the heavy rains have overwhelmed existing drainage systems, particularly along the South East Line.
It said the Rutenga-Mbizi section has suffered significant damage, with 360 meters of track washed away.
Additionally, a section of the Rutenga-Beitbridge line has lost 120 meters of track, with gullies reaching depths of up to 2 meters in some areas.
“The National Railways of Zimbabwe(NRZ) wishes to inform the public, customers and all stakeholders that due to the ongoing incessant rains, we are experiencing wash-aways on some parts of our lines, particularly on the South East Line,” it said.
The parastatal said the affected areas typically receive below-average rainfall each year but due to climate change, they are now experiencing unusually heavy downpours.
“This region is particularly susceptible to such incidents because of its natural topography. While we have encountered similar challenges in this corridor over the past few years, including on the Mozambican side, the current situation is the worst we have seen,” it explained.
The NRZ assured the nation that its infrastructure department is working tirelessly to repair the tracks and ensure the safe resumption of train operations. “Until repairs are completed, the affected section of the line will remain temporarily suspended.
The realignment of the line is now 90 percent complete, and teams are currently re-ballasting the area and applying quarry fines before reopening. “We have wagons loaded with ballast and quarry fines from our Nalatale Quarry Mine in Shangani en route to the site, and we expect the line to reopen and return to full functionality soon,” it added.
Meanwhile, the NRZ announced that the Rutenga-Chicualacuala line, which was also affected by rainwater, has been repaired and is now open to traffic. However, maintenance is ongoing to ensure that all damaged lines are operational.
The parastatal has faced significant challenges over the past two decades due to a lack of investment, particularly in freight wagons and the rail system, which has reduced its cargo-carrying capacity from an average of 18 million tons per year during peak years, to just 3 million tons now.
NRZ has had to suspend commuter passenger services in cities due to faulty railway equipment.
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