Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana to collaborate
Transportation leaders from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Botswana have recently ratified a preliminary trilateral agreement. This agreement is centered around the execution of the Ponta Techobanine Railway Project, a significant undertaking valued at US$6.5 billion.
The project's primary objective is to bolster the transportation links among these three nations. This ratification, which transpired in Harare on August 2, is an extension of a 2011 agreement. The previous agreement aimed to construct a deep-sea port at Techobanine, situated 70 kilometers south of Maputo in Mozambique. The vision is to link this port to the inland nations of Zimbabwe and Botswana via a 1,700-kilometer railway corridor. This corridor, designed to accommodate mixed-traffic, will incorporate both new and upgraded railway lines.
The ultimate goal of this endeavor is to enable the export of coal, extracted from the eastern regions of Botswana, to markets worldwide. During the meeting, the ministers acknowledged the operational efficiency of the existing railway line connecting Plumtree and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. However, they also identified the need for improvements on the route from Bulawayo to Chicualacuala, situated on Zimbabwe's southern border with Mozambique. To address this, it was agreed that the National Railways of Zimbabwe, Botswana Railways, and Mozambique Ports & Railways will collectively invest US$10 million towards the necessary upgrades.
The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) will shoulder labor and ancillary costs, including the procurement of ballast, lubricants, and spare parts. The Mozambican government expressed that this development marks a significant stride in the collaborative tripartite efforts to enhance the existing railway infrastructure. This aligns with the objectives of the Ponta Techobanine Project, as directed by the leaders of the three nations. Florencio Allisone, Mozambique's Deputy Transport Minister, assured that his government is committed to ensuring the full operation of the railway line connecting the port of Maputo with Zimbabwe. He also announced that the replacement of sleepers on the Chokwe to Mabalane section, a necessary step to remove speed restrictions, is slated for completion within the next three months.
The railway line extending from the port of Beira to central Zimbabwe via Machipanda has recently undergone rehabilitation. It is anticipated to be fully operational soon, offering an alternative route that can be selected based on the traffic requirements of Zimbabwe and Botswana. The NRZ has adopted the use of drones to enhance the surveillance of its infrastructure. Despite the theft or vandalism of rail components worth US$35,000 this year, detection methods are improving. The judicial system is also imposing penalties on those found guilty of these offenses.
