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Dr Gumbo

Blessings Chidakwa Correspondent
Government has started feasibility studies for the extension of two railway lines that link Zimbabwe to Zambia and Mozambique. The two major railway links are expected to decongest the movement of road cargo between Southern African countries.

The links are also projected to create opportunities for Zimbabwe to use alternative ports to those in the congested Beira and Durban. Addressing district administrators and heads of local authorities in Chinhoyi recently, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo said the major railway links will be from Harare-Lion’s Den-Zambia, while the other one would stretch from Karoi to Mozambique.

Minister Gumbo said a feasibility study for the two projects was under way.

“The project, which is a joint programme with the neighbouring countries, has since kick-started on the other side of the borders,” he said.
“From the Zambian side, they have already started and on our side we are looking for a prospective partner for us to start. Once we get an investor, we will be ready to roar.

“The one from Karoi bypasses Mashonaland Central, stretching up to the northern part of Mozambique in Nampula, while the one passing through Lion’s Den will be linking to Kafue in Zambia.” Minister Gumbo said Government was pushing hard for the project to start.

“There will be decongestion of movement of road between Zimbabwe and Zambia,” he said. “Some goods from Southern Africa will also be railed as it is the cheapest and safest way of transportation.”

Minister Gumbo said Government’s bid to create a sound road and railway network would see the construction of a tarred road that links Kariba and Victoria Falls, passing through Binga.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was the country’s Vice-President then, said a group of Zimbabwean businesspeople in the Diaspora, especially South Africa, had approached Government to fund some of the projects.

The projects include a National Railways of Zimbabwe recapitalisation programme, purchase of agricultural equipment and construction of fuel pipelines from Harare to South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.

A business consortium comprising South Africa’s Transnet and the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group has bid to partner the NRZ in a $400 million recapitalisation programme. The DIDG-Transnet consortium is reported to have raised close to $1,2 billion for the recapitalisation of the NRZ.