Mutapa Investment Fund bosses are rolling out a bare-bones rescue plan for the busted National Railways of Zimbabwe. Chief executive John Mangudya wants to fix what they have instead of buying flashy new trains that nobody can afford. The fund plans to pump between 7 million and 10 million US dollars into workshops, freight payments, and rented locomotives. Mangudya believes gradual repairs will prove the railway can actually make money before investors open their wallets wider. The strategy focuses on getting existing equipment back on track rather than splashing cash on brand new gear.
Mangudya breaks down the costs like a shopping list for railway repairs. Fixing broken wagons needs under 1 million dollars while locomotive repairs demand between 3 million and 5 million dollars. Hiring locomotives costs around 200,000 to 300,000 dollars monthly but keeps trains moving while repairs happen. The fund chief wants to avoid massive equipment purchases without guaranteed business to back them up. He argues that smaller investments with proven results make more sense than gambling everything on untested ventures.
The railway revival could transform how goods move around Zimbabwe and ease pressure on crumbling roads. Ambassador Bramha Kumar revealed that Indian company RITES signed a deal to supply nine locomotives and 315 wagons through Afreximbank financing. Zimbabwe sits on strategic rail routes connecting north and south but outdated infrastructure has crippled operations. The country desperately needs working railways to boost trade with regional partners and reduce transportation costs.
Mangudya breaks down the costs like a shopping list for railway repairs. Fixing broken wagons needs under 1 million dollars while locomotive repairs demand between 3 million and 5 million dollars. Hiring locomotives costs around 200,000 to 300,000 dollars monthly but keeps trains moving while repairs happen. The fund chief wants to avoid massive equipment purchases without guaranteed business to back them up. He argues that smaller investments with proven results make more sense than gambling everything on untested ventures.
The railway revival could transform how goods move around Zimbabwe and ease pressure on crumbling roads. Ambassador Bramha Kumar revealed that Indian company RITES signed a deal to supply nine locomotives and 315 wagons through Afreximbank financing. Zimbabwe sits on strategic rail routes connecting north and south but outdated infrastructure has crippled operations. The country desperately needs working railways to boost trade with regional partners and reduce transportation costs.
