The state of the nation’s crisis is abundantly clear after striking National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) employees allegedly caused a  major derailment of up to 26 wagons in Gweru.

The 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.

NRZ employees are on strike, because they are owed up to a total of 15 months in wages by their employers

It is alleged that four points along the railway  line, situated  behind Fairmile Hotel on Gweru Bulawayo Road in the city of Gweru were sabotaged by ‘striking NRZ employees’ leading to the derailment of 26 wagons loaded with over 1000 tonnes of  nickel  destined for neighbouring  South Africa.

The striking NRZ employees, however deny any involvement , alleging that the dilapidated rail infrastructure  is a likely cause of the mishap.

Zimbabwe’s  Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Joram Gumbo has indicated that  NRZ is in no position to entertain the employees demands as the parastatal has no money and is heavily owed millions by defaulting debtors.

This time it was a goods train but can Zimbabweans feel safe and trust riding on passenger  trains  if this allegation of employee sabotage is confirmed by investigating authorities.

Today its goods trains, tomorrow it could be a passenger train, a bus or plane, all because disgruntled employees seek attention.

If the lives of passengers, the public and livestock and property are at risk from such acts, we can all agree that the authorities need to reign in such crime, spare no one involved and send a clear cut message that life is cherished.

There are many ways of putting out their message which could include, simply not reporting for duty, blocking the trains from leaving depots and so forth, without destroying the locomotives. By Sibusiso Ngwenya