NRZ is steaming ahead

President Mnangagwa has pledged rapid development and transformation of transport and related infrastructure.

To achieve this, he tasked Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Jorum Gumbo to show the way forward in this regard within 100 days.

Association of Rural District Councils president Dr Killer Zivhu, who also heads the Zimbabwe Local Government Association, says the results are starting to be seen.

Government has availed US$500 000 to rural district councils for rehabilitation of roads.

Because this money has been made available, some roads that had been neglected for decades have been repaired, with bridges that had been swept away by flooded rivers being rehabilitated, such as those damaged by Cyclone Dineo in Mberengwa.

Major bridges linking the district to West Nicholson were swept away, with the destruction of Jeka Bridge causing untold suffering to Mberengwa villagers.

The bridge links Mberengwa to major hospitals and schools.

Similarly, the Mwenezi Bridge, which also serves as an important link, was damaged and has now been repaired, bringing relief to thousands of villagers.

The money that is being used to repair roads and construct bridges is coming from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration.

Work on the dualisation of the country’s major highways has also been accelerated, with construction work of the dualised Beitbridge-Harare Highway gathering momentum.

The speed at which the Harare-Bulawayo Highway is being dualised has also excited citizens.

President Mnangagwa’s zero tolerance for corruption has borne fruit after corrupt activities at the Vehicle Inspection Department were rooted out.

At the instigation of the President, corrupt officials have been fired and adequate measures to curb graft in the department have been implemented.

Without a doubt though, the major highlight of the President’s first 100 days in office has been the revival of the National Railways of Zimbabwe, a key economic fulcrum.

The NRZ, while finalising a US$400 million-plus deal to improve its equipment and operations, recently took delivery of leased locomotives, wagons and coaches from South Africa.