HARARE – The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) on Saturday announced it was stopping ferrying passengers under the Urban Commuter Train Service owing to non-payment for its services by ZUPCO.
Close sources said ZUPCO owes the troubled rail carrier over ZWL$1 million and a substantial amount in United States dollars.
The service was launched in partnership with ZUPCO last year to ease transport challenges faced by commuters in Bulawayo and Harare.
In a statement, NRZ spokesperson Andrew Kunambura said the suspension of the train service comes into effect from this Monday the 28th of November 2022.
“The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) would like to advise the commuting public of a temporary suspension of the Urban Commuter Train Service with effect from Monday 28th November 2022.
“The suspension was occasioned by an unsustainable operating environment arising from huge debts owed to NRZ by ZUPCO.
“NRZ was therefore left with no option but to suspend commuter trains from 28 November due to capacity challenges,” he said.
He said normal services will resume once ZUPCO fulfils its obligations as set out in the agreement between the two government entities.
The once thriving rail transporter topped a list of 50 defaulting employers who owe the Insurance and Pensions Commission in unremitted pensions.
NRZ board chairman Martin Dinha recently appealed to the government to subsidise the commuter train service to enable it to continue serving the public.
