Chinese to fund high speed train service in Zim

Posted by on Thursday, September 13, 2012 in Chinese, Zimbabwe politics | 3 comments

Zhao Guangfa is head of the China Railways Corporation

By Alex Bell
13 September 2012

Plans for a high-speed rail link between Harare and Bulawayo have been unveiled, as China continues cementing its place in Zimbabwe.

The multi-billion dollar plan was announced in Harare on Wednesday and forms part of a partnership between the Zim government and the China International Fund Consortium.

The head of the China Railways Corporation, Zhao Guangfa, said at the unveiling of the project that they plan to build a build a modern railway line between Harare and Bulawayo, with a high speed train running the route.

This plan, which is likely to take about three years to come to life, could potentially see commuters from Bulawayo take one and a half hours to travel to Harare.

Guangfa said that the China International Fund Consortium will also upgrade the Beitbridge-Harare and the Harare-Chirundu highways. These projects will take about a year to complete.

A number of other agreements, yet to be revealed, have also been signed off by the government, which will see the Chinese Consortium fund other projects in the country.

To contact this reporter email alex@swradioafrica.com or follow on Twitter @albell88

  • Anonymous

    Thi is wonderful ! The Chinese are now compensating us for the tattered zhing-zhong clothes they used to dump in our country.They are now seeing that our country is very rich in diamonds, that is why they are now kneeling for us. There is no nothing for nothing. Come and take your tattered zhing-zhongs and replace them with high speed train from Bulawayo to Harare ,then upgrade our highways. Tinotenda mbuya NeHanda nasekuru Kaguvi zvino voita basa manjeeeeee. We are looking forward for Tsvangirai Morgan Richard to takeover a well developed country not this state put by the thieves in question, ZANUs.

  • Cekay

    Oh please, one year to do Beitbridge-Harare!! Didnt these guys take more than 10 years to do Harare up to Turnpike Service Station. I certainly remember in the late 80s work having started on that stretch of road, and every year in summer, there was no road to talk of!!! One year my foot!!!!

  • Pidigori

    One and half hours Byo to Hre?? In Zimbabwe? So, does this train not stop anywhere then, all those “Cities” in-between, what happens to them? I have heard a lot of rubbish but this beats everything else! Anyone who believes this is day dreaming.