Hard times at NRZ

[John Ashworth]

HARD TIMES AT NRZ

On September 11, 2012 Railways Africa

Twenty years ago, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) was conveying 12 million tons of freight in 12 months, a figure that grew to 19 million in 1997. Another 12 years and the overall figure dropped drastically – to only 2.6 million in 2009. The latest statistic is a depressing 1.7 million, with the railway barely functioning.

The personnel complement was about 18,000 in 1980. That dropped to 12,000 by 1992 and the total stands at about 8,500 now. According to press reports, the average monthly operating deficit today is $US3 million. Staff wages are believed to equate to 86% of revenue, which indicates a need for some further drastic trimming.

“Dabuka siding, in Gweru, used to be the hub of rail transport in Zimbabwe,” writes the Financial Gazette (published in Harare) “but now it’s a scene of utter desolation. The marshalling yard is supposed to be the nerve centre of the country’s rail network, connecting trains not only between Harare and Bulawayo, but linking the country with Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.”

Only 71 locomotives are officially operational, and 3,427 of the 8,682 wagon fleet. In terms of a $US110.4 million order placed with Chinese manufacturers in 2004, 10 locomotives, eight commuter trainsets and 64 main-line coaches were to be supplied. NRZ managed to scrape up part of the deposit asked but was unable to secure the lines of credit or government guarantee for the remainder of the purchase price.