Botswana Railways - Botswana

Established in1987, Botswana Railways (BR) forms a crucial link in the Southern African regional railway systems. Its strategically laid rail network, supported by good relationships with other rail operators makes Botswana Railways freight services the most suitable, reliable and cost effective mode of transport to use for moving bulk commodities. Botswana Railways Freight Service targets bulk commodities that may be operational challenging for transport by other modes of transport.

Botswana Railways aspires to provide total logistics solutions that are in line with its customers ‘changing needs and in accordance with global trends. Our commitment is to continuously engage in effective and efficient ways of improving service delivery to our customers and ensure stakeholder satisfaction.

Our Vision is
To be the regional leader in customer driven transport and logistics solutions

Our Mission is
To provide quality, safe and competitive transport and logistics solutions to customers and ensure stakeholders satisfaction.

Our Values
Professionalism
Integrity
Creativity
Quality Service
Safety
Team Work

Our Strategy/Future
Background
Botswana Railways had over the years been marred by a number of problems, which had developed over a fifteen (15) year period from the time of the take over from the National Railways of Zimbabwe. These were compounded by poor organizational performance as well as historic under investment in rail network, rolling stock and infrastructure. As a result, for six years, starting in 1999, Botswana Railways had been experiencing operating losses which had led to a decrease in share capital.

In 2006, the Botswana Railways Board approved a holistic, in house drawn, Turnaround Strategy which sought to transform the organization by refocusing it to improve its performance and profitability through a total re-engineering process. The Turnaround Strategy had envisaged an investment running into millions of pula, spanning over a five year period to fund major renewal and recapitalization programs.

Seven Point Turnaround Strategy
The Turnaround Strategy that was drawn has the primary aims of reorganizing and rearranging Botswana Railways’ structures and internal business processes through seven strategy pillars; BR Turnaround Strategy Pillars;

Internal Business Re-organization
New Business Model
Asset Renewal
Recapitalization
Human Capital Development
Information Technology
Safety and Environment
Botswana Railways will achieve the objectives of the Turnaround Strategy through engaging strategy benchmark partners, allowing the organization to focus on its core business of transporting bulk commodities and soliciting shareholder’s assistance on funding for the rehabilitation and renewal of the company’s assets.