National Railways of Zimbabwe
National Railways of Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe's state-owned railway enterprise and national rail-system operator.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is the state-owned enterprise responsible for operating Zimbabwe's national railway system. Its headquarters are in Bulawayo, while Harare serves as a commercial and administrative centre and Gweru as a supply centre. The organization is governed by legislation and is the institutional successor to Rhodesia Railways, the railway undertaking that developed and operated much of the country's rail network during the colonial and Federation periods. The railway's origins date to the establishment of the Bechuanaland Railway Company in 1893. That company was renamed Rhodesia Railways in 1899. Other early railway companies, including the Mashonaland Railway Company and the Beira and Mashonaland Railway, were progressively consolidated into Rhodesia Railways, with the final major merger taking place in 1937. The system expanded as an essential instrument of mineral extraction, agricultural distribution, settlement, and regional trade. By the middle of the twentieth century it had become a substantial integrated railway undertaking, employing tens of thousands of people and carrying both large passenger volumes and significant freight traffic. Rhodesia Railways was nationalized in 1947 under the government of Southern Rhodesia and subsequently operated across a wider regional network. During the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland it came under federal control. Its historical network reached into what are now Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa, although portions were later transferred or sold to the relevant national railway authorities. Following the dissolution of the Federation and Zambia's independence, the Zambian portion remained under Rhodesia Railways management for several years before being transferred to the Zambia Railway Board in 1967. The present name was adopted in 1980 after Zimbabwe became independent. NRZ inherited a network of approximately 4,225 kilometres using the 1,067-millimetre Cape gauge. Its lines connect Zimbabwe with Zambia at Victoria Falls, Mozambique through routes toward Beira and Maputo, Botswana to the west, and South Africa through both the traditional western corridor and the privately developed Beitbridge–Bulawayo Railway. Freight transport has historically been the enterprise's commercial core, serving mining, agriculture, manufacturing, fuel distribution, and regional transit. NRZ's operating condition deteriorated substantially from the late 1990s. Transport-sector deregulation ended its previous monopoly, while economic decline, inadequate maintenance, shortages of spare parts, unreliable electricity, and mounting debt reduced fleet availability and network capacity. Freight volumes fell sharply from approximately 18 million tonnes in 1998 to about 2 million tonnes in 2010. The Harare–Dabuka electrified route also became unusable after years of deterioration and theft of overhead equipment, leaving diesel traction to replace electric operations. Steam locomotives have occasionally returned to service because locally available coal is easier to obtain than imported diesel and because heritage trains remain attractive to visitors. Passenger operations have been repeatedly interrupted. Commuter services in Harare and Bulawayo operated during the early 2000s, and Bulawayo commuter service was revived in 2018. Harare commuter routes restarted in 2021 in cooperation with ZUPCO but were suspended in 2022 after a payment dispute. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of passenger services in 2020, and the condition of passenger coaches and track-related speed restrictions subsequently delayed a full restart. As of the latest supplied reference material, NRZ's regular passenger services had not resumed, although charter, heritage, and tourist trains continued to operate on selected routes, particularly around Victoria Falls and between Harare and Mutare. The company has pursued recapitalization and private-sector participation, but a 2017 concession process was later cancelled after reported irregularities. NRZ therefore remains a strategically important but financially and operationally constrained public railway. Its future role depends on infrastructure renewal, fleet rehabilitation, improved signalling and safety systems, debt resolution, and the restoration of dependable freight and passenger services.
History
The history of National Railways of Zimbabwe begins with the railway companies created to connect the interior of southern Africa with ports and neighbouring territories. The Bechuanaland Railway Company was established on 24 May 1893 and became Rhodesia Railways Ltd on 1 July 1899. The Mashonaland Railway Company was formed in 1897. It absorbed the Ayrshire Gold Mine and Lomagundi Railway Company in 1905 and later incorporated the Beira and Mashonaland Railway in 1927. In 1937, the Mashonaland undertaking was absorbed into Rhodesia Railways, consolidating the principal railway interests serving the territory. Rhodesia Railways expanded into a large regional system. It operated routes in Southern and Northern Rhodesia, Bechuanaland, and, for a period, the Beira corridor in Mozambique. The Beira Railway was transferred to the Portuguese colonial government in 1949, while the Mafeking–Ramatlabama section was sold to South African Railways in 1959. After the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was established in 1953, Rhodesia Railways came under federal control. Following Zambia's independence in 1964, the railway continued to manage the Zambian network as a jointly held asset until that section was transferred to the Zambia Railway Board in 1967. The railway was nationalized in 1947 under Southern Rhodesian government ownership but retained the Rhodesia Railways name. During the 1960s and 1970s it was a major employer and freight carrier. Its locomotive fleet became particularly associated with the powerful Garratt steam locomotive, which was well suited to long routes and heavy loads. In 1965 the undertaking reportedly employed approximately 29,000 people, operated several hundred locomotives, and carried more than four million passengers annually. The transition to Zimbabwe changed the organization's legal and national identity. When Rhodesia became Zimbabwe Rhodesia in 1979, the railway briefly used the corresponding name. After the Republic of Zimbabwe was established in 1980, it became National Railways of Zimbabwe. During the 1980s NRZ pursued electrification, beginning work on a 305-kilometre Harare–Dabuka section in 1983. The first electric train operated in October of that year, and construction was completed two years later. The electrified corridor later fell out of service because of inadequate maintenance and theft of overhead equipment. NRZ also lost responsibility for some historical cross-border lines. In 1987 it relinquished ownership of Botswana's interior railway lines, helping establish the basis for Botswana Railways. In Zimbabwe, the government introduced transport-sector deregulation in 1997, ending NRZ's former monopoly. A private concession supported the construction of the Beitbridge–Bulawayo Railway, a more direct link to South Africa. The line opened in July 1999 and was operated by Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway, a company established by New Limpopo Projects Investments. The post-1997 period was marked by financial and operational decline. Economic contraction, deferred track maintenance, aging rolling stock, shortages of spare parts, fuel and electricity problems, and high debt reduced the network's reliability. Freight volumes fell from about 18 million tonnes in 1998 to approximately two million tonnes in 2010. Steam locomotives returned to some duties from 2004 because coal was relatively accessible while diesel fuel had to be imported. Passenger and commuter services also became intermittent. Harare and Bulawayo had commuter operations between 2001 and 2006, and a Bulawayo service was restored in 2018. NRZ sought private investment and recapitalization in the late 2010s. A 2017 bidding process selected a consortium led by the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group, but the process was later cancelled following reported irregularities. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the suspension of passenger services in 2020. Harare commuter routes were restarted in 2021 with ZUPCO but were suspended in 2022 after a payment dispute. In the supplied recent reference material, regular passenger services had not returned, although tourist, charter, and heritage trains continued in selected areas. Today NRZ operates a Cape-gauge network of roughly 4,225 kilometres and remains important for bulk freight and regional transit. Its connections reach Zambia at Victoria Falls, Mozambique through eastern corridors, Botswana in the west, and South Africa through established and newer routes. The Zimbabwe National Railways Museum in Bulawayo preserves locomotives, coaches, and other artifacts from this history. NRZ's long-term prospects depend on capital investment, fleet and signalling renewal, safety improvements, and the restoration of commercially sustainable services.
- 2021
Harare commuter rail restarted
[1]Three commuter routes resumed through cooperation between NRZ and ZUPCO.
- 2020
Passenger services suspended during COVID-19
[1]Regular passenger operations were halted during the pandemic.
- 2017
Recapitalization bidding process initiated
[1]The government began a process intended to attract private participation and capital into NRZ.
- 2004
Steam traction returned to some operations
[1]Steam locomotives were brought back into use as coal availability and imported diesel constraints affected operations.
- 1999
Beitbridge–Bulawayo Railway opened
[1]A privately developed railway link to South Africa opened on 15 July.
- 1997
Transport deregulation ended NRZ's monopoly
[1]Deregulation opened Zimbabwe's transport sector to greater competition and preceded a prolonged deterioration in NRZ's financial position.
- 1987
Botswana interior lines relinquished
[1]NRZ's predecessor's remaining ownership interests in Botswana's interior railway lines were relinquished.
- 1983
Harare–Dabuka electrification began
[1]Construction began on a 305-kilometre electrified railway section, with the first electric train operating later that year.
- 1980
National Railways of Zimbabwe name adopted
[1]After Zimbabwe became a republic, the railway took its current national name.
- 1967
Zambian railway network transferred
[1]Responsibility for the railway network in Zambia moved to the Zambia Railway Board.
Products and positioning
A public national railway and strategic regional freight corridor, with a historic passenger role and continuing importance to Zimbabwe's industrial and cross-border transport system.
Freight rail
Rail freight services
NRZ's principal commercial activity is the movement of bulk and general freight over Zimbabwe's national rail network. The system supports mining, agriculture, industrial production, fuel distribution, and cross-border transit. Its regional connections give Zimbabwe access to ports and markets through Mozambique and South Africa, while the Victoria Falls connection links the network with Zambia.
Passenger rail
Passenger rail services
NRZ historically operated long-distance passenger routes including Harare–Bulawayo, Harare–Mutare, Bulawayo–Victoria Falls, Bulawayo–Chiredzi, and Bulawayo–Chicualacuala. Regular passenger services were suspended during the COVID-19 period and had not resumed in the latest supplied reference material, largely because of rolling-stock condition and infrastructure restrictions.
Urban rail · 2001
Commuter rail
NRZ has operated commuter services in Harare and Bulawayo. Harare services restarted in 2021 on routes to Tynwald, Mufakose, and Ruwa in cooperation with ZUPCO, but the operation was suspended in 2022 following a payment dispute. Earlier commuter trains were informally known as Freedom Trains.
Tourism rail
Tourist and heritage trains
Steam and charter operations continue on selected parts of the network, especially around Victoria Falls. These services draw on Zimbabwe's historic locomotive fleet and railway scenery and are distinct from regular scheduled passenger operations. The supplied reference material also notes charter trains between Harare and Mutare.
Controversies
2020
DIDG sues NRZ over tender termination
DIDG filed a lawsuit against the National Railways of Zimbabwe over the termination of a tender. In its court papers, DIDG alleged that the cancellation was unlawful and claimed damages. These allegations are reported as claims made in the litigation rather than as established findings.
Brand decisions
2020
Suspension of regular passenger servicesStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic required passenger operations to be halted. Subsequent service restoration was complicated by aging coaches and track-related speed restrictions.
Action taken
NRZ suspended passenger services while continuing to focus on freight and selected tourism or charter operations.
Aftermath
Regular passenger services had not resumed in the latest supplied reference period, although limited tourist and charter trains continued.
2017
Pursuit of private recapitalizationM&ABackground
NRZ faced aging infrastructure, reduced freight volumes, limited rolling-stock availability, and severe financial constraints. The government therefore sought external capital and private participation.
Action taken
A competitive process was launched, with six companies submitting proposals. The Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group consortium was selected, but the award was later cancelled after reported irregularities.
Aftermath
NRZ remained a state-owned enterprise without the proposed concession and continued to require public or external support for rehabilitation.
Recent events
DIDG sues NRZ over tender termination[3]
Reported:
DIDG filed a lawsuit against the National Railways of Zimbabwe over the termination of a tender. DIDG alleged the cancellation was unlawful and claimed damages; the allegations are reported as claims in court papers.
Sources3 sources
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