The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
A comprehensive plan to overhaul the country’s ports of entry and refurbish major highways connecting Zimbabwe to the region is in the works, with Government set to facilitate the refurbishment of three major land border posts and cement the country’s status as a regional transport hub and preferred gateway for north-south-bound traffic, President Mnangagwa has said.
In this week’s instalment for this publication, the President said modern and functional border posts, coupled with requisite ancillary infrastructure such as world-class roads, were key to establishing Zimbabwe as a regional transport hub and facilitator of trade.
Last week, the President commissioned the second phase of the expansion and modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post, marking a milestone under the ongoing infrastructure development programme.
He said expansion of the Beitbridge border Post, currently being undertaken by the ZimBorders Consortium, will be followed by similar redevelopment of Chirundu, Plumtree and Forbes border posts in the near future, with plans afoot to engage the private sector to facilitate regeneration of the facilities through Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs).
In addition, the Government was exploring plans to develop a second bridge across the Limpopo River “to enhance movement and connectivity”, while a proposal to move the Forbes Border Post further inland was being considered.
“Already, Government is in advanced discussion with ZimBorders so that jointly, we expand our modernisation footprint by similarly developing Chirundu, Plumtree and Forbes border posts,” he said.
“Our vision is of a seamless network which is free of bottlenecks. That means that infrastructures at all our ports of entry must be made to purpose, and to high international standards.
“It also means all major roads traversing our territory and linking all our border posts must be made to international standards.
“Already, the Beitbridge-Chirundu Highway is receiving urgent attention.”
The President said the improvements to infrastructure were visible and are already paying off.
He said Zimbabwe’s status as the preferred gateway both for north- and south-bound traffic has been enhanced, “thus hastening our vision as a regional transport hub.”
The country’s geography, he said, favours its aspirations of becoming a regional transport hub.
Inadequate space at Forbes Border Post was constraining its expansion.
Government, he said, is exploring ways to relocate the port of entry, linking Zimbabwe and Mozambique to the east.
“Dualisation of the Mutare Plumtree Highway continues apace so we resolve any and all bottlenecks that inhibit traffic flow.
“On that score, Forbes Border Post has been worrying me.
“It labours under multiple constraints, not least of which are space and land limitations at the border.
“Government has thus decided to relocate the Border Post further inland so vehicular movement is unimpeded for more efficient services.
“There is no rule that says border services must physically take place at the actual point of border entry.”
Chirundu Border post will also undergo immense refurbishment, with authorities exploring ways to attract investors to the border town.
There are also similar plans for Machipanda Border Post in Mashonaland East.
President Mnangagwa said the country’s dilapidated rail infrastructure remains the transport sector’s Achilles heel.
He said “serious decisions” will be made in the near future to facilitate revitalisation of the rail network.
“Our biggest headache remains our weak railway service,” he added.
“Vital and cheaper, this service must begin to receive our attention so the national multimodal transport masterplan is complete, and reduces the cost of doing business.”
The President said he was “particularly worried that this vital transport mode lags behind at a time when the demand for its services are rising, what with the phenomenal expansion we are witnessing in the mining sector.
“Serious decisions will have to be made to revamp that transport sub-sector, including finding innovative ways to finance its rehabilitation and expansion.”
Key to success of the impending plan was an efficient and principled human resource.
He said while improved infrastructure enables efficiencies, “what makes for real efficiencies are human beings who make modern infrastructure deliver to satisfactory standards.”
The President said the Second Republic had no room for corrupt public sector workers and those found on the wrong side of the law will be severely punished.
He added: “I was intrigued to hear that since modernisation and automation, revenues at Beitbridge Border Post have grown threefold.
“Yet the volume of traffic going through the same border has largely remained the same.
“This suggests lots of leakages and corrupt malpractices that went on before this new phase.
The Second Republic has no room for lapses in integrity, all of which stands condemned and punishable.”
