By a Correspondent
THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) urgently needs US$115 million to buy locomotives and fix the rail network so that its capacity matches the country’s growing economy, deputy finance minister Clemence Chidawu has said.
Speaking during an engagement meeting in Bulawayo on Monday, Chidawu said it was strategic for NRZ infrastructure to be rehabilitated so that the parastatal supports the nation’s economic growth.
The deputy minister said a revamped NRZ will ease the pressure on the country’s roads which have been damaged by haulage trucks transporting coal and other heavy cargo.
“Our railway infrastructure needs a lot of money for rehabilitation. At the moment, we need US$115 million to be used to buy locomotives and repair the rail network,” he said.
“This is part of the development agenda where the rail system should develop at the same rate with the development of the economy.”
He told the meeting, which was held to deliver an update on progress under the National Development Strategy (NDS1) that the country’s economy is developing faster than the rail system.
“The priority is to make sure that the rail network is developed,” said Chidawu adding that the Government was committed to revamping NRZ so that the country benefits from an efficient railway network.
The government has said NRZ is crucial to achieving Vision 2030 and pledged to set aside $2 billion for its rehabilitation.
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