How Zimbabwe Fumbled its Railways.

How Zimbabwe Lost Its Railways | Can NRZ Come Back? How did Zimbabwe’s railways go from carrying more than ten million tonnes of freight a year to about two million? And can the National Railways of Zimbabwe make a comeback? When I was growing up in Bulawayo, the railway was not history. It was how I got to school. Behind that everyday journey was a network moving coal, steel, grain and other goods across Zimbabwe and towards regional ports. In this episode of The African Signal, we trace the railway’s rise, the shift of freight onto the roads, the loss of industrial customers and the underinvestment, procurement concerns and failed rescue deals that weakened NRZ. We also look at what remains: strategic railway land, the Bulawayo workshops, refurbished locomotives, private freight partnerships and the difference between announcing a revival and running a reliable railway. Can Zimbabwe rebuild a transport system that helps mines, farms and factories compete? Share your railway memories—and what you think a real recovery should look like—in the comments. Subscribe to The African Signal for stories about Zimbabwe, African business, mining, infrastructure and the economy. Selected sources and further reading NRZ history: https://nrz.co.zw/nrz-history/ NRZ network and infrastructure: https://nrz.co.zw/branches-departments/ September 2026 refurbishment report: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/nrz-co... Business enquiries: THOMAS@AFRICANSIGNAL.COM #Zimbabwe #Railways #NRZ #Bulawayo #Trains #AfricanHistory #ZimbabweEconomy #Infrastructure #Mining #Logistics #AfricanBusiness #AfricanSignal