Zimbabwe

The rehabilitation of roads, rolling stock and telecommunications systems are the three main requirements according to the Investment Authority of Zimbabwe to restore the rail network.

The country has 2,760 km of railways, of which 95% is intended for the transport of goods, 3% to passengers and the remainder to real estate. The network is antiquated, outdated and rarely used in the passenger sector. So Zimbabwe’s Investment Authority recently announced a program for the rehabilitation of roads, rolling stock and signaling and telecommunications systems of the national network. Some projects will be carried out in the form of public-private collaboration (PPP), such as works on routes to Mozambique from Harare-Machipanda and Dabuka- Chicaulacuala, Harare-Dabuka- Beitbridge and Lake Victoria Falls–Bulawayo –Dabuka- Harare.

In addition, the following actions are planned: recovery and replacement of locomotives, rolling stock and other equipment; rehabilitation of locomotives, wagons and supply of rolling stock components, as well as updating the existing ones; provision of new locomotives, coaches and wagons; purchase of support equipment for track maintenance and workshops.

Expansion lines

Key initiatives to expand the rail network include:

 Rail link Lion Den – Kafue

 Shamva -Moatize Link

 Railway shuttle Harare -Chitungwiza

 Updating the line Harare-Beira

Despite these initiatives the country has currently not announced any feasibility studies. In addition, most of the planned projects for regional transport which leads to the conclusion that urban transport and freight transport have yet not been improved.