BULAWAYO The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has plans to spend millions of United States dollars procuring 29 state of the art passenger coaches from a Chinese company with the first delivery set for June.
According to information from NRZ sources, CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Company Ltd, a subsidiary of China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation (CSR), is supplying the coaches. The parastatal spokesperson, Fanual Masikati, confirmed the deal but refused to reveal the details, saying it could jeopardise the arrangement. Its true that we are arranging the purchase of coaches, I cannot give more details as that could jeopardise the deal. We once gave details of an Angolan deal and our counterparts pulled out as they were not happy, said Masikati.
Masikati was also not at liberty to reveal the amount involved. But sources told The Zimbabwean that NRZ officials have visited the companys headquarters in China to tie loose ends of the deal. According to the order, the ailing parastatal would take delivery of six types of coaches – special express hard-seat coach, special express cushioned-seat coach, special express semi-cushioned berth sleeper, special express bar-coach, luggage and power generating combination coach and commuter car. NRZ sources say the parastatal urgently needs of both locomotive and passenger coaches.
Currently NRZ is operating at between 30% and 50% of its capacity because of a myriad of challenges. In 2004, NRZ concluded other contracts with CNR of China for the supply of the locomotives, train sets and mainline coaches at a cost of US$110,4 million.
Post published in: Economy