The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has urged the Government regulate the trade in scrap metal to curb vandalism of the railway network.
The parastatal says it has spent nearly US$1 million replacing equipment and rail components vandalised by illegal gold miners or stolen by copper cable thieves.
NRZ public affairs and stakeholder relations manager Andrew Kunambura told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/vandals-cost-nrz-us1m">The Sunday Mail</a> that thieves are also targetting ballast along railway lines.
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. Said Kunambura:
<blockquote>
Illegal gold miners are digging holes and tunnels that cut across the railway lines.
The effect of such destruction is an increased derailments and accidents.
The NRZ is also experiencing theft of ballast along the railway network.
Such ballast is used to construct houses and some are taken with the belief of extracting gold ore from it.
This is particularly frequent on the Harare-Bindura and Shamva line, and the Kadoma-Eiffel Flats line.
The effect of such theft results in potential derailments and train accidents.
Due to the proliferation of scrap dealing, we have witnessed a rise in the theft of scrap in our yards throughout the system.
To ameliorate the dire situation, there is a need for scrap dealers to be regulated so that they apply due diligence when procuring such scrap.
</blockquote>
Kunambura said between January and December last year, NRZ dealt with 52 cases of copper theft and 49 related to the destruction of rail properties.
Between January and October, the NRZ handled 27 cases of theft and vandalism.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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NRZ Pleads For The Regulation Of Scrap Metal Dealers

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) says it will auction its disused wagons and other obsolete metals which have become expensive to repair.
The auctions will be conducted by Desired Liaison Auctioneers at NRZ headquarters in Bulawayo as well as in Harare this week.
Newly appointed spokesperson, Andrew Kunambura, told State media that the proceeds from the public auction will be used to refurbish operating wagons and procurement of new ones. Said Kunambura:
<blockquote>
NRZ is a heavy user of metal, which is used in the manufacture of wagons and their respective components.
Some of these wagons were acquired many years ago and are obsolete. Once this happens, the wagons are scrapped and from time to time the NRZ sells this scrap metal.
However, this is the first time NRZ is disposing of its scrap metal through the public auction system.
Previously, the NRZ disposed of its scrap metal through the tender process.
It’s also the most transparent way of asset disposal as all bids are called out to all participants and award is done in full view of everyone.
Proceeds from the public auction will be used to refurbish wagons in use and procurement of new wagons.
Viewing will be done at least a day before the auction and since wagons are scattered along the railway line in various places within the country, viewing will be for just a sample, in Harare and Bulawayo.
Wagons will be sold using wagon number, estimated tonnage and location. Only ungraded scrap will be disposed of, which means it excludes wheels and axles as the organisation is intending to use the graded scrap for its induction furnace.
</blockquote>

NRZ To Auction Disused Wagons, Scrap Metal

The Zimbabwe Institute of Foundries (ZIF) has implored the Government to impose a ban on scrap metal exports immediately.
This comes amid reports that approximately 30 local foundry and steel recycling firms have shut down due to a severe shortage of feedstock and high scrap metal prices.
The high scrap metal prices on the international market have resulted in a rise in the export of the materials even by big firms therefore negatively impacting the operations of the local foundry sector.
ZIF says Zimbabwe has about 50 small to large foundry plants and the steel recycling industry has the potential of generating US$1.5 billion annually.
Speaking during an interview with Business Weekly on Thursday last week, ZIF spokesperson Dosman Mangisi said the shortage of scrap has pushed the price up to between US$250 and US$300 from US$80 per tonne in the past two years. He added:
<blockquote>
We are appealing to the Government to ban exports of scrap to save the industry…
Other countries such as South Africa and China have put curbs on scrap exports.
We have scrap from the National Railway of Zimbabwe going to South Africa, Why?
</blockquote>
Mangisi said a summit has been scheduled for 17 and 18 March 2022 at the Harare Institute of Technology to address some of the challenges faced by the foundry sector.
He said the sector, which used to employ about 30 000 people, supplies 60 per cent of its products to mining companies, with the remainder largely used in the agriculture and construction industries.
Mines, rural areas, merchants who collect the scrap from ordinary people and car scrap yards are the major sources of scrap metals, Mangisi further stated.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.ebusinessweekly.co.zw/call-to-ban-scrap-metal-exports/">Business Weekly</a></h4>

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