The Sunday Mail
Rumbidzai Muparutsa
Government has begun implementing a multi-billion transport master plan with progress now at various stages to rehabilitate roads, bridges, airports and rail infrastructure.
According to the plan, feasibility studies have been concluded on the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu road, which is expected to cost $2 billion.
The 111 km Harare ring road is pegged at $120 million and the 322km Bulawayo-Beitbridge rehabilitation and widening exercise will chew $320 million.
The plan, which exposes the investment opportunities in Zimbabwe’s transport sector, is also exposed to lure companies for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in implementing the projects.
Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer George Mlilo told The Sunday Mail last week that ten national roads had been identified for various works.
Among the road projects is the Harare-Nyamapanda highway, which is key in enhancing trade between Zimbabwe and Sadc countries. It is expected to be dualised at a cost of $320 million with feasibility studies currently under way.
“Construction and upgrading is expected for the Mvurwi-Guruve-Angwa-Kanyemba trunk road, Rutenga-Boli-Sango road and Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane road at a total cost of $500 million,” said Eng Mlilo.
“Birchenough Bridge and Victoria Falls Bridge are earmarked for rehabilitation and feasibility studies are yet to be done.”
Eng Mlilo said the bulk of the airports in the country are long overdue for rehabilitation. He said apart from the Robert Mugabe International Airport that had already secured funding for refurbishment from the Chinese, the Joshua Nkomo, Hwange, Kariba, Gweru, Buffalo Range, Mutare, Masvingo and Beitbridge Airports need to be upgraded.
The permanent secretary also said the Lion’s Den-Kafue rail project had been pegged at $2,5 million while costing was still being done for the Shamva-Moatize (Mozambique) rail plan.
Oer the past six months, Zimbabwe been on a drive to rehabilitate various infrastructure and stimulate economic growth.
