The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is set to commission three refurbished locomotives and 100 wagons this week under a public-private partnership with ferrochrome producer Zimasco, as the railway operator turns to major customers to help rebuild its ageing freight fleet.
The rolling stock was refurbished after Zimasco financed the purchase of critical spare parts and consumables, with the equipment now earmarked specifically for transporting the company’s mineral commodities.
NRZ said the arrangement demonstrates how partnerships with freight customers can be used to restore capacity without placing the burden of recapitalisation entirely on the state-owned railway.
“This is partnership in action—NRZ and its major customer working together to unlock capacity and move more freight.”
The three locomotives and 100 wagons are expected to strengthen NRZ’s ability to transport Zimasco’s mineral output by rail, potentially reducing pressure on the country’s road network.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said the Government was deliberately seeking greater private-sector participation in railway rehabilitation, including through customers contributing resources towards rolling-stock renewal.
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“We need a functional railway line which makes sure that we carry our cargo so that we do not burden our roads.”
Mhona said the Government was encouraged by the emerging partnerships, which could help restore NRZ’s freight operations.
“I am happy that the initiative has already started under the NDS2 drive, where we are also calling for collaboration from the private sector.”
The Zimasco arrangement builds on an earlier phase of cooperation between the two companies. Previous refurbishment work under the partnership resulted in 51 NRZ wagons being restored, with the latest programme expanding the intervention to locomotives and a much larger number of wagons.
The development comes as NRZ seeks to reverse years of declining rolling-stock availability and rebuild rail freight volumes. The company has been pursuing targeted refurbishment of locomotives and wagons while encouraging private-sector investment in its network and equipment.
For Zimasco, dedicating the refurbished rolling stock to its mineral cargo provides greater certainty over freight capacity, while NRZ gains additional operational equipment through customer-funded rehabilitation.
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