RUTENGA–SANGO RAILWAY LINE REOPENS AFTER FLOOD DAMAGE REPAIRS

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has resumed the movement of cargo via the Rutenga-Sango railway line after successfully completing repair work on the line. The resumption follows an over two-week hiatus after heavy rains precipitated flash floods that damaged a section of the railway line foundation in the Makambe area in Chikombedzi.

The damage affected a stretch of the line from the 315km to the 319km peg, which falls under the Gandanyemba-Makambe block. NRZ suspended the movement of cargo after one of the rail operator's coal-laden trains derailed on the damaged section. NRZ immediately started effecting repairs to make the line trafficable, as it is a vital link for moving cargo between Zimbabwe and Mozambique's port of Maputo. Follow & Share Our WhatsApp Channel

The line mainly transports the country's coal and chrome to the global market via Maputo. NRZ spokesperson Mr. Andrew Kunambura confirmed the reopening of the Rutenga-Sango line to railway traffic, saying: "The line (Rutenga-Sango) was reopened today (Sunday) at 1am after completion of all the repair work."

During the derailment along the Rutenga-Sango railway line on Christmas Eve, some NRZ wagons were also damaged but have since been repaired. The Rutenga-Sango line is set for a major overhaul under the impending Ponto Techobanine Railway project, a tri-nation initiative that will upgrade and create a rail link starting from Botswana, via Zimbabwe, en route to a deep-sea dry port at Techobanine in the Indian Ocean