Zimbabwe's NRZ Seeks $115 Million Afreximbank Loan for Rail Upgrade
By Aboki Forex —
Zimbabwe's state-owned railway company, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), is negotiating a $115 million loan from Afreximbank to buy locomotives and wagons and expand freight haulage capacity. The company also plans to use the financing for repairs to parts of its railway infrastructure.
NRZ now operates under Zimbabwe's sovereign wealth fund, Mutapa Investments. Mutapa Investments Chief Executive Officer Mangudya said the discussions with Afreximbank are focused on securing the funding. The goal is to increase the railway's capacity to transport freight and support Zimbabwe's mining and logistics sectors.
Rolling stock and infrastructure
Mangudya spoke as NRZ commissioned refurbished rolling stock through a partnership with Sinosteel's Zimbabwean ferrochrome unit. The refurbishment is part of NRZ's efforts to improve its available rolling stock while it seeks larger-scale investment.
The proposed Afreximbank financing would cover locomotives, wagons and repairs to sections of NRZ's railway infrastructure. NRZ says its overall investment requirement is substantially larger than the $115 million facility. Mangudya estimates the railway operator needs a much bigger sum to upgrade its rolling stock, railway network and supporting infrastructure.
Freight decline and private partnerships
NRZ has struggled for years. Freight volumes have fallen sharply from their peak in the 1990s. By 2025, the volume of freight transported by NRZ remained far below that peak. The company has increasingly partnered with private logistics firms in an effort to rebuild freight volumes.
NRZ said it had begun hauling in partnership with private operators. The rail service provides the mining industry with a potentially cheaper transportation option. Most minerals are currently transported to ports by road.
The development is particularly relevant to Zimbabwe's mining sector, where lithium and other mineral exports generate significant demand for transportation infrastructure. NRZ's push to restore rail freight could ease pressure on road transport if the investment materialises.