NRZ suffers huge losses due to theft and vandalism

THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has incurred losses of infrastructure valued at over US$35 000 due to acts of vandalism in the first half of the year, during which 101 offenders were arrested with some subsequently being convicted and sentenced.

Rampant theft and vandalism of railway infrastructure, including illegal mining activities along the rail tracks is hampering NRZ efforts to revitalise operations.

NRZ has since incorporated drones to monitor its infrastructure. Recently, four women were captured by drones while vandalising a railway line by digging up coal ash, which is used to strengthen the rail formation.

In a statement yesterday, NRZ public affairs and stakeholder relations manager, Mr Andrew Kunambura said since January, 30 people have been sentenced to mandatory jail terms ranging from between five and 10 years for vandalising and stealing railway components.

He said the conviction rate marks an increase of 81 percent compared to 16 convictions with similar sentences recorded in the same period last year.

Mr Kunambura said the culprits are targeting railway components such as spring fasteners, pins, copper cables, signal equipment and other track components.

Some have been arrested for stealing ballast along the tracks, which they assume to be potential gold ore.

This is particularly rampant in gold-rich areas such as Shurugwi, Banket and Mazowe.

Ballast is a layer of crushed stone or gravel that is placed on top of the subgrade and under the railroad ties. It provides support for the ties and tracks and it also helps to drain water away from the tracks.

Mr Kunambura applauded the courts for meting out justice.

“As the NRZ, we are happy that the courts are imposing such highly deterrent sentences on these vandals. It has been a big cause for concern over the past years and we can now begin to hope for a reduction in these cases as more vandals get punished,” he said.

“We are saying this is critical national infrastructure and nobody should unfairly benefit from it. Stealing rail components, for instance, leaves the tracks loose and our trains susceptible to derailments.”

Mr Kunambura said derailments are a huge cost to the economy and also lead to loss of lives.

“This also affects our delivery times and schedules, which can cost the country a lot of foreign currency and affects the economic agenda very negatively. So, we are saying rail components are better left alone for the good of the nation,” he said.

In past years, people convicted of stealing railway infrastructure got away with light sentences, including fines.

However, Mr Kunambura said NRZ lobbied the judiciary to put more emphasis on the impact of the thefts and vandalism on its operations when coming up with appropriate sentences instead of the value of the property as guided by the Railways Act (Chapter 13:09).

These efforts have seen courts imposing deterrent sentences.

The Railways Act sets sentences of between five and 10 years on people convicted of stealing and vandalising railway infrastructure.

Government has also amended the Copper Control Act to mandate courts to impose mandatory 10-year jail terms on people who steal copper cables from public utilities.

Mr Kunambura said since January, 74 cases of theft worth US$35 696 and 101 arrests have been recorded.

Of the convicted persons, 14 were slapped with 10-year jail terms while 15 received five-year jail terms. Some cases are still pending before the courts

Mr Kunambura said in 2022, 41 cases were reported and property worth US$29 728 was stolen. Of those arrested, 12 were given 10-year jail sentences while four were each sentenced to five years in jail.-chroncile