NRZ-Zupco plan signals Zim regression

THE ban on privatelyowned commuter omnibuses which were serving most urban routes without a viable alternative was an ill-timed decision which lacked research.

The current Zimbabwean leadership is gripped with kneejerk policies. The introduction of old and dirty Ian Smith-era regime locomotives to mitigate transport crisis shows the lack of seriousness by government in terms of planning.

These locomotives surely are outdated and not compatible with modern technology. If we managed to phase out Peugeot 404 vehicles which were popular in the early 1990s, why is the government bringing back such very old trains to operate?

Mnangagwa’s government needs to move with time and I don’t think National Railways of Zimbabwe trains will be the best solution to our transport problems.

Mnangagwa should learn to embrace new technology than taking the country back to the stone age era.

The level of incompetence within this new dispensation leaves a lot to be desired.

Their launch of old and rusty trains for use to ferry passengers epitomises the colonial relics that are in the corridors of power.

When MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa talked about bullet trains in the run-up to the 2018 polls, some Zanu PF apologists laughed at him, but surprisingly this week we witnessed the old trains being unveiled with Zanu PF chefs ululating and cheering on — basically celebrating mediocrity. They are allergic to change and enjoy living in the past.

These top government officials must park their stateof-the-art vehicles and travel on those trains and feel the discomfort they are exposing citizens to.

I know very much that the trains don’t have charging ports for passengers to recharge their phones. Surely these ramshackle trains are not fit to ferry passengers, but probably stockfeeds.

These old trains are a disaster in waiting.