Business Reporter
The Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) CEO, Dr. John Mangudya, has outlined strategic plans to revive the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), which has been largely inactive in recent years.
The announcement came during an event marking the commissioning of three refurbished locomotives and 100 wagons, following a US$2.5 million investment from mining firm ZIMASCO under a public-private partnership (PPP).
The refurbishment, undertaken at NRZ’s Bulawayo mechanical workshops, is part of a government initiative to strengthen collaboration with the private sector and enhance Zimbabwe’s railway transport infrastructure. ZIMASCO contributed approximately US$2.46 million towards critical spares and consumables needed for the overhaul.
“The fiscal budget alone cannot shoulder the massive weight of infrastructure renewal and rolling stock overhaul. We, therefore, invited the private sector to partner with us in revitalising Zimbabwe’s rail sector.
“This framework allows high capacity freight clients to invest directly in refurbishing out of service rolling stock in return for dedicated usage and incentivised freight rates. It is a win–win model: private partners secure supply chain reliability, while NRZ injects immediate operational capacity into its asset base,” he said.
Following the transfer of NRZ oversight to MIF, the focus has shifted to performance, commercial viability, and wealth creation. Dr. Mangudya noted that every refurbished locomotive and wagon contributes to Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy (NDS1/NDS2) and Vision 2030, highlighting rail as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable mode for bulk haulage.
By moving minerals and commodities back to rail, the country expects to save billions in road maintenance, reduce transit times, and improve the efficiency of regional trade corridors.
“We are currently working on the rehabilitation of the Machipanda–Harare line with Mozambique and the Chicualacuala–Dabuka–Plumtree line under a US$10 million tripartite arrangement with Botswana and Mozambique, which are vital components of regional trade integration,” said Mangudya.
MIF’s initiatives also include outsourced refurbishment of three locomotives, anticipated to return to service by December 2026, and the leasing of four Sheltam locomotives to address immediate traction challenges.
Plans are underway to expand the fleet further, supported by a US$ 6 million Ecobank facility for refurbishing 520 wagons and acquiring maintenance equipment ,as well as a US$115 million Afreximbank facility for procurement of 10 new locomotives, 315 wagons, and key infrastructure rehabilitation.
These developments reflect a coordinated effort to revitalize Zimbabwe’s rail sector, leveraging public-private partnerships to enhance the country’s transport infrastructure and support economic growth.
