Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has intensified efforts to modernise its operations through an ambitious locomotive and wagon refurbishment programme aimed at boosting efficiency and regional connectivity.
Railway officials said this during a tour of the parastatal’s facilities by the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, which was conducting a verification and engagement exercise to assess NRZ’s operations, infrastructure and performance.
The legislators toured the Mechanical Engineering Workshops and the NRZ Training Centre before holding discussions on the future of Zimbabwe’s railway sector and NRZ’s modernisation efforts.
NRZ Chief Executive Officer Munyaradzi Charangwa said the rail operator was making significant progress in rebuilding its fleet and restoring confidence in rail transport services.
“We are focused on rebuilding the capacity of NRZ through the refurbishment of locomotives and wagons as part of our broader strategy to position the railway company as a dominant regional logistics provider.
“Recently, we successfully refurbished three locomotives and 100 wagons, while three additional locomotives are currently undergoing the same process. These developments demonstrate our determination to improve operational efficiency and service delivery,” said Charangwa.
He said the rehabilitation programme was critical in enhancing the movement of goods and passengers while reducing transport costs for industry.
“The railway sector remains strategic to Zimbabwe’s industrialisation and regional trade integration. Our thrust is to provide innovative, seamless, reliable and cost-effective logistics solutions for both goods and passengers,” he said.
He added that NRZ had also resumed traffic on the Chicualacuala-Maputo corridor following repairs to infrastructure damaged by heavy floods in Mozambique, a development expected to improve regional trade flows.
“The reopening of the corridor is important for regional connectivity and freight movement. It strengthens trade links between Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the broader Southern African region,” Charangwa said.
During the tour, members of the Public Accounts Committee were taken through the operations at NRZ’s Mechanical Engineering Workshops, which refurbish locomotives and wagons and manufacture critical railway components such as gears, pulleys and axles.
Charangwa said the workshops in Bulawayo and Mutare remained among the company’s key strategic assets because of their engineering capabilities and potential to support the wider regional rail industry.
“Our workshops continue to play a critical role in sustaining railway operations and reducing dependence on imports through local manufacturing and refurbishment expertise,” he said.
He said NRZ was committed to promoting regional economic transformation through customer-focused services, innovation, environmental sustainability, integrity and adherence to health and safety standards.
“With our vision of becoming the dominant regional transport logistics solutions provider, we continue to invest in infrastructure rehabilitation, skills development and operational excellence,” he said.
New Ziana
