They're finally fixing that broken railway after a train derailed. The Rutenga to Sango line in Zimbabwe is getting a total rebuild as part of a huge three-country rail project linking Botswana and Mozambique. The multi-billion-dollar Ponta Techobanine initiative will create a new deep-sea port in Mozambique and upgrade seventeen hundred kilometers of track. Andrew Kunambura from the National Railways of Zimbabwe confirmed the plans are moving ahead with all three nations, stating the line is a vital trade route. Recent heavy rains in Masvingo Province caused a cargo train to derail near Chikombedzi, exposing the urgent need for the overhaul.
The upgrade will be extensive, not just basic maintenance. They plan to install new culverts, replace old rails, and completely rebuild the most fragile sections of the rail bed. The goal is to handle heavier cargo loads and prevent future weather-related failures. The new Mozambican port at Techobanine is meant to move millions of tonnes of coal and steel annually, giving landlocked countries better export access. This project aims to transform regional trade by connecting Botswana and Zimbabwe directly to the Indian Ocean, shifting away from reliance on southern South African ports.
Kunambura noted that agreements between Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe are being finalized. The work on the Zimbabwean section will focus on the infrastructure from the Botswana border all the way to the Mozambique frontier at Sango. This overhaul is a key part of the larger corridor designed to boost economic connectivity. The derailment incident simply underscored how critical and dilapidated the existing line has become, pushing the planned renovations into the spotlight.
The upgrade will be extensive, not just basic maintenance. They plan to install new culverts, replace old rails, and completely rebuild the most fragile sections of the rail bed. The goal is to handle heavier cargo loads and prevent future weather-related failures. The new Mozambican port at Techobanine is meant to move millions of tonnes of coal and steel annually, giving landlocked countries better export access. This project aims to transform regional trade by connecting Botswana and Zimbabwe directly to the Indian Ocean, shifting away from reliance on southern South African ports.
Kunambura noted that agreements between Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe are being finalized. The work on the Zimbabwean section will focus on the infrastructure from the Botswana border all the way to the Mozambique frontier at Sango. This overhaul is a key part of the larger corridor designed to boost economic connectivity. The derailment incident simply underscored how critical and dilapidated the existing line has become, pushing the planned renovations into the spotlight.
