The Sunday News
Harare Bureau
THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is in line to soon receive fresh capital injection after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Turkish construction company Yapi Merkez on collaboration in the rehabilitation and modernisation of railway infrastructure.
Yapi Merkez is constructing a US$2 billion high-speed railway line in Tanzania and hopes to invest close to US$2 billion.
The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the two entities is clear demonstration of the fruits of the investment drive that is being implemented by the National Railways of Zimbabwe.
In an interview on the side-lines of the signing ceremony in Istanbul Turkey, NRZ board chairman Advocate Martin Dinha said the signing of the agreement signals the beginning of the journey towards the transformation of the country’s transporter of bulk goods as the partner has a favourable financing model which will make implementation easier.
“We are going through a phased recapitalisation drive to restore operational capacity and return to profitability in the short term. The recapitalisation project will involve the rehabilitation and renewal of plant, equipment, rolling stock, track, signalling and telecommunications infrastructure and the supporting Information Technology (IT) systems. So the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Yapi Merkezi is a milestone development because our partner has expressed interest in the modernisation of the NRZ,” said Adv Dinha.
A team of experts from the Turkish Company is expected to visit Zimbabwe to assess the state of the railways infrastructure and thereafter if the two parties decide to implement specific projects definitive agreements will be signed.
The purpose of the MoU is to define the basic aspects that governs the relationship between NRZ and Yapi Merkezi in relation to the technical, commercial and financial studies to be conducted by the Turkish Company which will lead to the Definitive Agreements to be executed between the Parties to realise the potential Project(s) to be mutually agreed.
So we are exploring mutual co-operation in the following areas; removal of cautions, re-railing worn out sections and turnouts, tunnel rehabilitation and bridges upgrade, upgrading buildings and facilities, maintenance and systems installations, train control systems, level crossing equipment, data network upgrade, electrical equipment rehabilitation, yard Track Rehabilitation, Signalling of Yard, yard lighting and training NRZ personnel.
Mr Ali Aslan Uzun, Yapi Merkez general manager highlighted that his company has experience in working with African countries as similar projects have been implemented in North Africa and some in Ethiopia and Tanzania.
He added that the cooperation with the National Railways of Zimbabwe will lead to the modernisation of the state owned enterprise.
