Paul Nyakazeya, Group Digital Editor 
A Chinese firm, CTCE, has signed a MOU with Harare that will result in the construction of multi-million dollar rail projects in Zimbabwe.
ASIAN transport giant China Tiesiju Civil Engineering (CTCE) last week signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) with Harare on multi-million dollar rail projects.
Shao Gang, CTCE vice president and senior engineer, said the MOU was for the construction of the 24km Harare-Chitungwiza railway line and another 1 700km line from Binga to Nampula, near the Mozambican coast.
He said progress had been made so far on talks for the construction of the Chitungwiza-Harare railway, and another new rail line into Mozambique.
“I am quite aware of other Chinese companies that may have come before us; however, CTCE brings to the country a strong work ethic built over many years, and a culture that revolves around action and results,” Gang added.
During their visit, the CTCE officials held meetings with Local Government ministry officials.
CTCE employs over 200 000 workers across the world and has an annual turnover of over $100 billion.
The company, also known as the China Railways No.4 Engineering Group Company Ltd, has partnered with a local company, Global Power Bridge International, to invest more than $2,5 billion in railway infrastructure in the country and neighbouring Mozambique.
Knowledge Kadzura, Global Power Bridge International chief executive, said the deal is a “breath of fresh air” for investment-starved Zimbabwe.
According to the MoU, the trans-Zambezi project is one of five ventures earmarked for Zimbabwe by CTCE.
These include a $500 million soya bean production project in Binga, a Harare to Chitungwiza 40 kilometre-railway line, water and sewer reticulation infrastructure development in Ruwa, and a $40 million shopping mall in the same town.
While the Chinese government has reportedly flagged the freight and wagons venture as a “priority project”, the Asian behemoth is foreseeing a scenario where it will use, if not exploit, the rail concession to export an estimated two million tonnes of soya beans from Zimbabwe to the Mozambican coast en route to China.
newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw
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