News / Regional
Train derails in Gweru
31 Mar 2016 at 14:15hrs | Views
A goods train headed for South Africa with more than 1000 tonnes of nickel derailed in Gweru in a suspected case of sabotage by some striking National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) workers.
Preliminary investigations indicate that four points along the railway line behind Fairmile Hotel in Gweru were tempered with and covered with sorghum stocks to obscure the engine man's vision.
This resulted in the derailment of 26 wagons loaded with nickel that was destined for South Africa, according to one of the NRZ employees who was at the scene.
The ZBC News managed to talk to some of the striking workers who however professed ignorance about the accident and vehemently denied that some of their colleagues could have been behind the derailment.
They alleged that the derailment of trains is common as the equipment has become obsolete.
NRZ employees downed tools claiming they are owed 15 months in salary arrears.
In Gweru, the workers who were gathered outside NRZ offices appealed to their management to look into their plight, saying most of them have been reduced to destitutes.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Joram Gumbo confirmed that the NRZ has no money to meet the workers' demands as the parastatal is also owed millions by debtors who include state enterprises.
Preliminary investigations indicate that four points along the railway line behind Fairmile Hotel in Gweru were tempered with and covered with sorghum stocks to obscure the engine man's vision.
This resulted in the derailment of 26 wagons loaded with nickel that was destined for South Africa, according to one of the NRZ employees who was at the scene.
The ZBC News managed to talk to some of the striking workers who however professed ignorance about the accident and vehemently denied that some of their colleagues could have been behind the derailment.
They alleged that the derailment of trains is common as the equipment has become obsolete.
NRZ employees downed tools claiming they are owed 15 months in salary arrears.
In Gweru, the workers who were gathered outside NRZ offices appealed to their management to look into their plight, saying most of them have been reduced to destitutes.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Joram Gumbo confirmed that the NRZ has no money to meet the workers' demands as the parastatal is also owed millions by debtors who include state enterprises.
Source - zbc
