GOVERNMENT EYES MINING PARTNERSHIPS TO REVIVE NRZ; VP Chiwenga Outlines Industrial Vision at ZITF

BULAWAYO — The Zimbabwean government has launched a strategic initiative to revive the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) by inviting partnerships with mining houses and bulk commodity movers, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga announced yesterday.

Addressing delegates at the International Business Conference during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), the Vice-President emphasized that rehabilitating rail infrastructure is critical to decongesting the nation's roads and facilitating the cost-effective transport of bulk goods, both domestically and internationally.

The government has identified several key railway lines for immediate focus to address increasing transport demands. The earmarked infrastructure projects include:

• Victoria Falls-Bulawayo

• Bulawayo-Dabuka

• Dabuka-Rutenga-Beitbridge

• Chiredzi-Mvuma-Dabuka

Beyond these, the government is actively seeking private sector partnerships for additional key railway corridors, including the Lions Den to Kafue (Zambia) link, the Plumtree-Dabuka-Chicualacuala line, the Harare-Bindura-Moatize (Mozambique) link, the Kadoma-Sengwa link, and the Mutare-Mkwasine and Dorowa-Nyazura links.

In addition to rail transport, the government is focusing on domestic manufacturing. VP Chiwenga revealed a strategic partnership between Willowvale Motor Industries and Leyland to produce custom-built buses tailored to the Zimbabwean terrain. Production of bus kits is scheduled to commence in Harare by the end of 2026, with an initial target of 50 buses destined for the local market.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to "Connected Economies, Competitive Industries," the theme of this year's ZITF conference, the Vice-President stressed that Zimbabwe is pursuing deliberate reforms to protect investments, uphold the sanctity of contracts, and ensure transparent regulation. Key pillars of the government's economic agenda include:

• In-country Value-Addition: Zimbabwe will no longer export raw resources without deriving maximum benefit, transitioning instead toward beneficiation and manufacturing.

• Monetary Stability: The introduction of the ZiG currency is part of broader efforts to establish a stable domestic currency and strengthen economic fundamentals.

• Ease of Doing Business: Continuous improvement in regulatory environments to unlock both domestic and international investment.

The Vice-President extended an invitation to the private sector to partner with the government in expanding energy, transport, and digital infrastructure, positioning Zimbabwe as a strategic gateway to regional markets through SADC, COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Zimbabwe NRZ rail revival partnerships