‘EXPEDITE ROAD PROJECTS’ President presses Minister over Chirundu-Beitbridge road dualisation
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday called on Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Dr Joram Gumbo, to expedite the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Chirundu Highway and improve the state of other key highways.
In his address during the reception ceremony for leased locomotives, wagons and passenger coaches under the $400 million deal between the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG)/Transnet Consortium, the President said an efficient transport network was a key enabler in investment attraction and economic development.
“I would like to exhort the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to expedite the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Chirundu Highway and many other road construction and rehabilitation projects throughout the country,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Any impediments in this regard must be urgently resolved so that our people can enjoy the associated safety, convenience and efficiency of these essential public utilities.”
Tender for the $1 billion dualisation project was awarded to Geiger International and the project was commissioned in May last year but is yet to kick off.
There are, however, indications that work will start next month. The contractor will work with Zhejiang Bayong Highway Engineering Company of China. The firm was contracted by Government to carry out the project under a 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.
The President said the poor state of the Beitbridge/ Chirundu Highway had caused many deaths hence the need to speed up the implementation of the dualisation project.
Cde Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe should upgrade its infrastructure such as the road network and railway system in order to practically demonstrate that it is open for business.
“The state and ambience of our road sides must exude a country that is ready for business. I, thus, encourage the responsible authorities to mount billboards in strategic areas along highways that communicate the vision and aspirations of our nation as espoused in this new dispensation,” said President Mnangagwa.
To that end, the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said enhanced efficiency in the railway network will help remove the bulk cargo from the country’s roads and transfer it onto the railways.
“Our road and railway projects must therefore be complementary and concurrent where possible. The current scenario, whereby road transport is moving a lot of bulk cargo damages our roads and makes the roads unsafe and inconvenient to ordinary motorists.
“It is my sincere hope that that once the railway network has been restored to acceptable levels of efficiency, the necessary steps will be taken to move bulk cargo by rail,” said President Mnangagwa.