Zimbabwe’s Rail Network: A Recipe for Disaster?

By Shingirai Vambe

The recent string of rail train accidents in Zimbabwe has raised serious concerns about the safety of the country’s transportation system. In just two weeks, three collisions between trains and vehicles have occurred, highlighting the disregard for road use and regulations that has become all too common in the country.

The latest incident occurred on Wednesday night in Kadoma, when a truck driver and his passenger narrowly escaped death after their vehicle rammed into a passing train, causing a derailment. According to the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), the driver appeared to have lost control of his lorry, which was carrying sand, as it approached a rail and road level crossing.

The driver and his passenger were fortunate to have jumped out of the vehicle moments before the collision, and were rushed to hospital where they received treatment for their injuries. However, the incident highlights the need for greater caution and adherence to safety regulations at rail and road level crossings.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Zimbabwe. In recent weeks, there have been two other collisions between trains and vehicles, one in Harare and another in Gweru. In the Harare incident, a Honda Fit vehicle with six male passengers onboard was hit by a train at around 1AM while crossing a railway line on Chiremba Road. Fortunately, the six passengers escaped with moderate injuries.

The Gweru incident involved a police Mahindra vehicle that was badly damaged after the driver failed to give way to an oncoming train. The two police officers in the vehicle survived with minor injuries.

These incidents have raised concerns about the state of Zimbabwe’s rail network and the safety measures in place to prevent such accidents. Many have expressed frustration at the lack of attention given to maintaining the country’s rail infrastructure, with some even suggesting that the rail system is dilapidated and no longer functional.

“It’s like people have given up on the rail system,” said one concerned citizen. “They think that there’s no longer a moving train in Zimbabwe, and that’s why they’re so reckless at level crossings.”

The NRZ has urged drivers to exercise extreme caution when approaching level crossings and to avoid using defective vehicles. However, more needs to be done to address the root causes of these incidents and to prevent future accidents.