Political Correspondent<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HARARE \u2013 Presidential Spokesperson and Deputy Chief Secretary George Charamba has robustly defended the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) following public criticism and online mockery of its trial run of the Rail Leisure train set to operate between Harare and Mutare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trial of the refurbished passenger train, which will run during the upcoming #Sanganai_Hlanganani_Kumbanayi Tourism Expo, drew mixed reactions on social media, with some questioning its relevance in today’s transport market. Charamba dismissed what he termed \u201camateurish commentary,\u201d insisting that NRZ’s future hinges on delivering safety, reliability, and commuter convenience\u2014not competing on price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a lengthy statement, Charamba outlined a strategic vision for the railway service, emphasizing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNRZ must ensure its fares recognise that the Mutare route is now highly intermodal: there is air, road and now rail. The primary consideration is always safety, followed by convenience and lastly, price. NRZ\u2019s edge lies in offering overnight travel \u2013 allowing passengers to arrive in Harare or Mutare early enough to conduct their business and return in the evening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He argued that trains could effectively compete with road transport by focusing on scheduling, connectivity, and passenger comfort. \u201cA daytime train and a nighttime train are two completely different products. If I was running NRZ, I would invest in discovering commuter needs which boil down to journey purpose and scheduling,\u201d Charamba added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Highlighting the potential to alleviate Harare\u2019s chronic traffic congestion, he noted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRail suffers no congestion as its way is dedicated. NRZ can really reap from the mounting traffic jams into Harare if it schedules its services and manages its ticketing well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NRZ has long struggled with aging infrastructure and chronic underinvestment. Charamba\u2019s comments signal a high-level push to reposition the railway operator, focusing on \u201cconvenience, scale and smart scheduling\u201d rather than engaging in a price war with other transport modes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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