THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) resumed cargo operations yesterday in areas affected by recent floods that washed away rail tracks in some parts of the country, after ensuring the realigning of tracks was done safely.
The affected areas included the Rutenga– Mbizi section, where 360 metres of tracks were destroyed, and a section along the Rutenga–Beitbridge line, where 120 metres of tracks were washed away.
NRZ spokesperson Andrew Kunambura told the Daily News yesterday that inspections were conducted to ensure the realignment of tracks was done safely and to the highest standards.
“The realignment of the tracks is 100 percent complete. The process of stabilising the tracks is now in full swing, with 20 wagons of ballast and 15 wagons of quarry fines on site,” Kunambura said.
“Teams are working around the clock, and the line is expected to reopen soon. Realignment is the easiest part of the recovery plan; it’s just putting back the tracks and ensuring the rail is intact.”
Kunambura added that although washaways were common during the rainy season, this year’s incident was worse than they had experienced before.
“Wash-aways occur on railway lines worldwide, particularly during periods of unusually high rainfall. This phenomenon is unpredictable and can happen anywhere. Although wash-aways happen almost every season, the recent incident in Zimbabwe was unusually severe. We have not experienced them at this magnitude,” he added.
