By Chantel Takudzwa Zambukira
The National Railways of Zimbabwe Public Relations officer, Andrew Kambarami has disclosed that there are no plans to re-introduce long distance passenger train services that were suspended during the COVID 19 induced lockdowns.
Responding to questions from Zim GBC News, Kambarami said the Government of Zimbabwe and the Nrz have not sat down yet to decide on the matter.
“The Long Distance Passenger Services remain suspended, that’s all I can tell you,” Kambarami said in a Telephone interview with this reporter.
“There is a lot that needs to be done in terms of ensuring that the trains are safe and that issues such as social distancing are implemented in our trains, that is why the passenger train services were suspended.” These are the words of the then Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, the late Joel Biggie Matiza while addressing the media in June 2020.
A source within the NRZ disclosed to Zim GBC News that the main reason why Inter-City passenger train services remain suspended is because the country’s 2600km rail network is in bad state and the re-introduction of passenger train services might result in derailments.
The NRZ used to run Inter-City Passenger Service between Harare and Bulawayo, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, Bulawayo and Chiredzi, Gweru and Masvingo. There was also the popular Harare to Mutare overnight train.
The NRZ Inter-City passenger train services is strategically designed to link major cities and towns in Zimbabwe in order to offer an affordable and convenient mode of travel. This service before the suspension provided overnight travel, giving passengers the convenience of sleeping while en-route.