NRZ Unveils National Rail Plan to Boost Zimbabwe's Mining Exports
By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE
The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has unveiled an ambitious long-term strategy to develop a nationwide network of mineral logistics hubs and new railway lines aimed at improving the movement of minerals, lowering transport costs and strengthening Zimbabwe's mining export competitiveness. The plan comes as Zimbabwe seeks to expand value chains in the lithium, iron and coal mining sectors, while shifting bulk cargo from roads to rail to reduce infrastructure damage and improve logistics efficiency.
NRZ spokesperson Andrew Kunambura said the railway operator intends to extend rail infrastructure closer to major mining operations across the country.
"NRZ has plans to bring rail heads closer to major mines to cut down transport costs and improve competitiveness," Kunambura said.
According to NRZ, proposed projects include constructing a rail link from Mutoko to Moatize in Mozambique and another connecting Inthundla to Redcliff. Kunambura said the recently commissioned West Nicholson lithium rail siding represents the first phase of a broader mineral logistics programme.
"The West Nicholson initiative is just the beginning. More such hubs will be set up so that lithium is transported by rail," he said.
NRZ plans to establish additional mineral logistics hubs at:
Zvishavane (serving Sandawana Lithium and Bikita Minerals)
Dete (Kamativi Lithium Mine)
Shangani (Zulu Lithium Mine)
Goromonzi (Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe)
The hubs are expected to improve the movement of lithium concentrate from mining sites to export corridors.
Kunambura said increasing rail transport would reduce heavy truck traffic on Zimbabwe's highways.
"It is also a major milestone because it will help preserve roads from damage by haulage trucks carrying heavy cargo. By moving 1,000 tonnes of lithium by rail, an equivalent of 33 haulage trucks have been removed from our roads," he said.
He added that the initiative has generated additional freight business for Bulawayo-Beitbridge Railway (BBR), NRZ and Mozambique's CFM (Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique).
NRZ said rehabilitation work is already in progress on the Machipanda-Harare railway line, while preparations are underway to modernise the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls railway corridor with support from the Mutapa Investment Fund and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development.
The upgrades are intended to encourage bulk commodities, particularly coal and coke, to shift from road transport to rail. The railway operator also confirmed it is engaging Dinson Iron and Steel Company over plans to extend the railway line from Mvuma to the Manhize Steel Plant, one of Zimbabwe's largest industrial investments.
The announcement follows the launch of a new rail export corridor linking Gwanda Lithium Mine to the Port of Maputo through Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Under the arrangement, Bulawayo-Beitbridge Railway transports lithium concentrate from the US$1.5 million West Nicholson rail siding to Beitbridge before handing the cargo to NRZ for movement to Chicualacuala, where it is transferred to CFM for onward transport to the Port of Maputo via the Maputo Development Corridor. The corridor forms part of Zimbabwe's broader strategy to improve mineral export logistics, reduce transport costs and support the revival of the country's rail transport system.
NRZ mineral logistics hubs
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