B/Bridge-Byo-Vic Falls Highway dualisation gathers momentum

Source: B/Bridge-Byo-Vic Falls Highway dualisation gathers momentum – NewsDay Zimbabwe May 30, 2016

TRANSPORT and Infrastructure Development minister Joram Gumbo says preparations for the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road will start next week, with government inviting tenders for the project.

by KHANYILE MLOTSHWA

Gumbo told delegates at the 2016 inaugural Bulawayo ZimAsset Stakeholders Conference at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) over the weekend that this came after the successful dualisation of the Plumtree-Bulawayo-Harare-Mutare highways.

“We want to have well-maintained and trafficable roads and this means the rehabilitation and widening of the road networks,” he said.

“We have completed the Plumtree-Harare-Mutare Road. Next will be the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, which will go to tender next week. Those interested in business can tender. These roads connect Bulawayo and other regions and other countries especially, South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.”

Gumbo commended the City of Bulawayo for having the best maintained roads in the country.

“This city has the best road network and that has been the case for many years now. The roads are well-maintained and they connect the industries with the city centre and the residential areas. I want to applaud the Bulawayo City Council for the community-based programme for pothole patching. Plans are underway to replicate the programme in other local authorities in the country,” he said, adding the country required $5 billion in the next 10 years to keep its roads “well maintained and trafficable”.

“That is about $50 million per year. But you will realise that in the last budget, we received about $60 million from Treasury.”
Gumbo said his ministry was considering a number of ways to subvert the funding challenges including the build-operate-transfer model and prudent management of funds by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration.

Turning to the salary deadlock at the National Railways of Zimbabwe, where workers have downed tools since March, Gumbo said his ministry was involved in negotiations that would lead to the recovery of the parastatal.

“There is a need to reverse the downward trend of the NRZ. The ministry is working hard to secure funding for the recapitalisation of the institution. It’s not easy to disclose who you are courting for such a big project. We are in serious discussions to revive NRZ and we want to redo the railways and bring back the signals for electrical trains. You might see some changes quite soon.”