Source: State-owned railway lines: Private players may be allowed to operate – herald
Sunday Mail Reporter
PRIVATE players will be allowed to operate trains on State-owned railway lines under a planned open access framework in the sector.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister Joshua Sacco revealed the development during the recent Southern African Railways Association Conference, saying the policy would open the door for private operators to compete in the rail industry.
The Government will, however, continue to be responsible for the track and core infrastructure.
“On the national rail policy interventions by Zimbabwe, we are establishing a robust regulatory environment that separates infrastructure management from operations, ensuring fair access to the rail network while policy reforms are under consideration to gradually allow third-party operators on key corridors, creating competition and efficiency,” he said.
“The open access framework shall be preceded by establishing an independent regulator to ensure safety, fair pricing and transparent access agreements.”
The envisaged independent regulator will be tasked with monitoring compliance, setting access charges and arbitrating disputes between operators and the State-owned infrastructure manager.
It will also oversee safety standards and ensure that all operators, whether State or private, are treated fairly when accessing the network.
The open access model is a system used in several parts of the world, including Europe, to liberalise the rail sector. Instead of one company having full monopoly over tracks and train services, the infrastructure owner — usually the State — maintains the rail lines while licensed operators can run freight or passenger trains on the same network.
In practice, this means a mining company, a logistics firm or even an international rail operator can apply to operate services, paying an access fee to the infrastructure owner.
The goal is to increase usage of existing tracks, improve service quality and unlock new investment streams for railway development.
Deputy Minister Sacco underlined the need for deeper regional cooperation to make the reforms effective.
He called for policy harmonisation across Southern Africa, standardisation of axle loads and streamlining of border processes.
These measures, he said, would allow trains to move seamlessly across borders, cut delays and reduce costs for traders.
“Zimbabwe’s geographical centrality on the North-South Corridor, linking South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), calls for deliberate proactive policy to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks for fluid mobility,” he added.
“Railway revitalisation is both a national priority and a regional necessity to ensure cost-effective, efficient and sustainable trade flows for the land-linked continental Africa.”
Zimbabwe is anchoring its reforms in several large-scale infrastructure projects, which include the Chongoene Port-Namibia Corridor, a 1 700 kilometre east-west rail line that will connect Mozambique’s new deep-water port through Botswana to Namibia at an estimated cost of US$6,5 billion.
The African Development Bank is expected to commence feasibility studies for this transformative project soon.
Another priority is the Lion’s Den-Kafue link, which will connect northern Zimbabwe to Zambia.
The European union has already funded feasibility studies for this project, and Zimbabwe is now finalising memoranda of understanding with both Zambia and Mozambique to move it forward.
In addition, Zimbabwe is also collaborating with Mozambique’s national rail company, CFM, to upgrade the Beira-Harare line, which serves as a critical export and import route for the country.
At the same time, the Government is investing its own resources into upgrading domestic infrastructure to improve efficiency and reliability within the national network.
These projects, Deputy Minister Sacco said, would be “game-changers” for regional trade, linking Zimbabwe, Zambia and the DRC with ports in Durban, Beira and Walvis Bay.
He also highlighted the proposed 1 700-kilometre Techobanine Corridor, valued at US$6,5 billion, which would connect Zimbabwe and Botswana to a deep-water port in Mozambique.
In the meantime, Zimbabwe is working with Mozambique and Botswana to repair and upgrade existing infrastructure, while also modernising border posts at Beitbridge, Forbes-Machipanda and Chirundu to support faster cargo clearance.
“Zimbabwe’s commitment to regional cooperation in advancing transport integration, in line with SADC (Southern African Development Community)’s Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan, cannot be overemphasised,” he said.
The post State-owned railway lines: Private players may be allowed to operate appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.