Bulawayo, (New Ziana)-The the deployment of motorcycle patrol units, drone surveillance, and collaboration with law enforcement agents has reduced cases of theft and vandalism of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) infrastructure, a senior official has said.
NRZ board chairman Dr Misheck Sibanda said this on Tuesday while officiating at the pass-out parade of 59 trainee security officers under the Loss Control and Security Services Branch of the parastatal.
Among the graduates, 24 were female while 35 were male, all having successfully completed six weeks of rigorous basic security training.
Dr Sibanda said 71 arrests were made involving vandalism of railway infrastructure, while 13 offenders were successfully convicted under the Railways Act and sentenced to between 5 and 10 years in prison.
“In 2025, a total of 102 cases were recorded throughout the country. Of these, 36 involved illegal mining activities encroaching into the railway servitude. The arrests and convictions demonstrate the effectiveness of our strengthened enforcement approach,” he said.
He said the NRZ was a cornerstone of the country’s economic infrastructure and a vital enabler for growth, making the protection of its assets non-negotiable.
“For NRZ to reclaim its strategic position in regional and national logistics, the protection of rail infrastructure, cargo, personnel, and assets is non-negotiable. This is where you, the graduating trainees, come in,” he said.
Dr Sibanda explained that as the country moves towards attaining upper-middle-income status by 2030, the revitalization of the NRZ was vital for the provision of a modernized, efficient, safe, and reliable transport system.
“As we march towards the national development aspirations under Vision 2030, NRZ’s revitalization is essential. Security is a pillar in that transformation,” he said.
He added that Bulawayo remains a key transport and industrial hub, and as such, high-level security training will be conducted in the country’s second-largest city.
“As Zimbabwe, through the Mutapa Investment Fund, focuses on the rehabilitation of NRZ rail infrastructure and the strengthening of this national institution, the work of NRZ Loss Control and Security Services becomes increasingly significant. Security is not merely about guarding property, it is about safeguarding national progress,” he said.
Dr Sibanda reaffirmed that the rail agency will continue to address illegal mining, copper cable theft, and vandalism along rail servitudes, which threaten operational safety and viability.
During their training, the security officers were equipped with critical skills in foot drill, silent drill, unarmed defence, statutory laws relevant to NRZ operations, ethics, and other essential security competencies.
New Ziana
