Yesha
Senior Member
- Jan 28, 2026
- 102
- 45
Zimbabwe is planning to invest about US$600 million in the first phase of a major programme to rehabilitate and modernise its railway network, as the country seeks to make rail transport a bigger driver of trade and economic growth.
The plan is part of Government’s wider effort to revive the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), whose freight capacity has fallen sharply after years of underinvestment, ageing locomotives and wagons, and deteriorating railway infrastructure.
A feasibility study has identified about US$600 million as the requirement for the first phase of the railway rehabilitation programme.
Rather than relying entirely on public funds, the Government is looking at partnerships with private investors and the mining sector to raise the money needed for the project.
One proposal involves using mining concessions as part of the Government’s contribution to a joint venture, while private investors would bring in capital, technical expertise and other resources.
The approach reflects the important role mining plays in Zimbabwe’s economy. Minerals such as lithium, coal, chrome and other bulk commodities require reliable and affordable transport to reach processing facilities, borders and ports.
For ordinary people and businesses, a stronger railway system could also mean lower transport costs and less pressure on Zimbabwe’s roads.
Much of the country’s bulk cargo is currently transported by trucks, contributing to congestion and putting heavy pressure on major highways. Moving more minerals, agricultural produce, fuel and industrial goods by rail could help reduce these costs.
Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) has set an ambitious target of increasing railway freight throughput from about 2.1 million tonnes in 2025 to 12 million tonnes by 2030.
NRZ has also set out a turnaround programme aimed at rebuilding its capacity. The railway operator expects to move about 3 million tonnes of freight in 2026 as it begins restoring locomotives, wagons and other equipment.
At its peak, NRZ transported more than 12 million tonnes of freight annually. However, volumes have fallen dramatically, with the railway moving about 2 million tonnes in 2025.
The Government’s longer-term railway plans include upgrading infrastructure, replacing and refurbishing rolling stock, and modernising signalling and communications systems.
The broader programme is also expected to support regional trade by improving rail connections between Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries.
Zimbabwe and Zambia, for example, have been working on plans for a railway link connecting Kafue in Zambia through Chirundu and Lion’s Den in Zimbabwe towards other regional corridors. The proposed route is estimated to cost about US$2.18 billion and is intended to reduce transport and logistics costs while improving access to regional ports.
There are already signs that rail could play a bigger role in Zimbabwe’s mineral exports. In July 2026, NRZ launched a freight rail option for transporting lithium from Zimbabwe’s Gwanda area towards Mozambique’s Maputo port, providing an alternative to long-distance trucking.
If successfully implemented, the railway revival could have an impact far beyond trains and tracks.
For Zimbabwe’s mining sector, it could make it easier and cheaper to move minerals. For farmers, improved rail could provide another option for transporting large volumes of agricultural produce. For manufacturers and importers, it could reduce logistics costs.
It could also help protect Zimbabwe’s roads from the damage caused by heavy trucks and strengthen the country’s position as a regional trade and logistics hub.
However, the success of the US$600 million first phase will depend on securing the required financing, finalising partnerships and ensuring that the projects are implemented efficiently.
For a country whose railway system once carried millions of tonnes of cargo every year, the proposed investment represents an attempt to put Zimbabwe’s railways back at the centre of the economy.
The plan is part of Government’s wider effort to revive the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), whose freight capacity has fallen sharply after years of underinvestment, ageing locomotives and wagons, and deteriorating railway infrastructure.
A feasibility study has identified about US$600 million as the requirement for the first phase of the railway rehabilitation programme.
Rather than relying entirely on public funds, the Government is looking at partnerships with private investors and the mining sector to raise the money needed for the project.
One proposal involves using mining concessions as part of the Government’s contribution to a joint venture, while private investors would bring in capital, technical expertise and other resources.
The approach reflects the important role mining plays in Zimbabwe’s economy. Minerals such as lithium, coal, chrome and other bulk commodities require reliable and affordable transport to reach processing facilities, borders and ports.
For ordinary people and businesses, a stronger railway system could also mean lower transport costs and less pressure on Zimbabwe’s roads.
Much of the country’s bulk cargo is currently transported by trucks, contributing to congestion and putting heavy pressure on major highways. Moving more minerals, agricultural produce, fuel and industrial goods by rail could help reduce these costs.
Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) has set an ambitious target of increasing railway freight throughput from about 2.1 million tonnes in 2025 to 12 million tonnes by 2030.
NRZ has also set out a turnaround programme aimed at rebuilding its capacity. The railway operator expects to move about 3 million tonnes of freight in 2026 as it begins restoring locomotives, wagons and other equipment.
At its peak, NRZ transported more than 12 million tonnes of freight annually. However, volumes have fallen dramatically, with the railway moving about 2 million tonnes in 2025.
The Government’s longer-term railway plans include upgrading infrastructure, replacing and refurbishing rolling stock, and modernising signalling and communications systems.
The broader programme is also expected to support regional trade by improving rail connections between Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries.
Zimbabwe and Zambia, for example, have been working on plans for a railway link connecting Kafue in Zambia through Chirundu and Lion’s Den in Zimbabwe towards other regional corridors. The proposed route is estimated to cost about US$2.18 billion and is intended to reduce transport and logistics costs while improving access to regional ports.
There are already signs that rail could play a bigger role in Zimbabwe’s mineral exports. In July 2026, NRZ launched a freight rail option for transporting lithium from Zimbabwe’s Gwanda area towards Mozambique’s Maputo port, providing an alternative to long-distance trucking.
If successfully implemented, the railway revival could have an impact far beyond trains and tracks.
For Zimbabwe’s mining sector, it could make it easier and cheaper to move minerals. For farmers, improved rail could provide another option for transporting large volumes of agricultural produce. For manufacturers and importers, it could reduce logistics costs.
It could also help protect Zimbabwe’s roads from the damage caused by heavy trucks and strengthen the country’s position as a regional trade and logistics hub.
However, the success of the US$600 million first phase will depend on securing the required financing, finalising partnerships and ensuring that the projects are implemented efficiently.
For a country whose railway system once carried millions of tonnes of cargo every year, the proposed investment represents an attempt to put Zimbabwe’s railways back at the centre of the economy.
