The Sunday News
Sunday Life Reporter
MORE than 170 people turned up for the National Railways of Zimbabwe Mother’s Day steam train fun day, underscoring the potential of rail leisure in the country’s tourism development.
NRZ public relations manager Mr Nyasha Maravanyika said the fun day, which saw people riding on a steam train from Bulawayo to Sawmills, about 80km northwest of the city, was a huge success and an encouragement to the parastatal’s efforts to diversify and tap into the leisure tourism market.
“The rail leisure steam train surprised us this year in terms of numbers. We have really noted its growth potential for domestic tourism. Domestically, the steam train would attract mostly people in Bulawayo and surrounding areas but it’s pleasing to note people are now coming from as far as Harare. This definitely compels us as an organisation to seriously look at this potential market and diversification going forward,” he said.
Mr Maravanyika said the NRZ’s steam locomotives were a historical asset that held a huge attraction to leisure train enthusiasts.
“It’s an important untapped market with a huge potential for the NRZ and the country at large”.
He said from the feedback they got from passengers, it was clear that people enjoyed the experience despite the train running behind time after a delayed departure due to logistical reasons.
“People showed passion, desire, excitement and enthusiasm for the experience. They enjoyed the run and were even prepared to advise us on how to improve and spruce up future steam leisure runs. We were also amazed by the imagination and dreams that the tourists have, emanating from their historical and passionate knowledge about the rail industry and especially steam trains.
“All indications point to interesting future runs and it is up to us the NRZ to ensure we nurture our precious infrastructure,” he said.
The fun day included a braai at Sawmills and traditional dances from pupils at Sawmills Primary School. Mr Maravanyika said taking the steam train to Sawmills also took the local community down the memory lane.
A passenger, Mr Thabani Ndlovu, who brought his wife and children, said he never thought travelling by train could be fun.
He said it was his first experience on a steam train and called on the NRZ to widely publicise future runs to attract more new customers.
