Zimbabwe: NRZ Buys Trucks From China

Source from:  The Herald (Harare) 5 November 2007 11/06/2007

The National Railways of Zimbabwe this week acquired 78 trucks from China, which are now ready for shipment, as it moves to resuscitate its subsidiary, the Road Motor Services. NRZ acquired 68, 30-tonne truck horses and 10 fixed body trucks from Chinese company Camco, to complement its train fleet, in a deal sealed last week. The trucks have since been certified fit for use on Zimbabwe's roads by a team of Government compliance inspectors. RMS, which had been teetering on the brink of collapse, is being resuscitated to bolster the country's transportation system, in line with the land reform programme where there has been serious problems in transporting farm produce to markets. Yesterday, Zimbabwe's Ambas-sador to China, Cde Frederick Shava, confirmed the deal, saying the trucks would be shipped via Beira, Mozambique. He said he was now working out the shipment modalities with the Chinese companies. "Yes, it is the latest deal which I think is good for RMS and the transport sector, especially the transportation of goods where the railway wagons cannot have access. "We have since found a vessel to ship the trucks to Beira where they can easily be driven home, instead of Durban, where we are forced to carry them. Beira is, therefore, appropriate for us," said Mr Shava. He said the trucks should be expected to arrive home before the next harvest where they will be instrumental in the transportation of maize, cotton, wheat and tobacco. "We have done a pre-shipment test and we are satisfied with what we have got. "I am now working on the actual schedule on when the vessel can depart and when it will arrive but those are very small issues. The biggest part has already been done. " RMS used to boast of one of the most efficient road transport fleets that played a pivotal role in the transportation of goods from rural areas, which do not have access to railway lines. However, an ageing fleet had left the company on the brink of collapse. Enditem