via Bulawayo24 NEWS | ‘All major roads in Zimbabwe to be dualised,’ says Obert Mpofu 07 November 2014 by David Shumba
Government plans to dualise all the country’s major roads to improve safety and infrastructure, a Cabinet Minister said recently.
Speaking after touring Chivake River Bridge, in Murehwa, which was being repaired, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Obert Mpofu said government would press ahead with the dualisation of other major roads as soon as work on roads under construction was complete.
“This road (Harare-Nyamapanda) is part of our priority projects,” he said.
“Plans for the dualisation of this Harare-Nyamapanda road are being processed right now. It is going through the normal processes of government, but it is our priority.”
After the dualisation of the Plumtree-Harare-Mutare road, Minister Mpofu said work on the dualisation of Harare-Nyamapanda, Harare-Chirundu, Bulawayo-Victoria Falls, Bulawayo-Beitbridge would be done after courting investors.
Minister Mpofu said the Ministry of Finance had asked his ministry to prepare budgets for the dualisation of the roads.
“I was talking to the secretary discussing some communication from the Ministry of Finance which has asked us to give specific requirements for the implementation of these programmes and we are going to do that,” he said.
He said revenue collected from tollgates had helped in carrying out repairs of Chivake River Bridge.
His ministry, he said, plans to construct more tollgates to generate revenue for the dualisation of major roads.
Work to repair the Chivake River Bridge was expected to be completed early next month.
The rehabilitation and dualisation of the country’s major roads was in line with the economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable, Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).
Zim-Asset recognises road infrastructural development as a major driver of economic development.
Last year, Zimbabwe launched the National Transport Policy to co-ordinate the development of road infrastructure as government courts investors for the dualisation of other major trunk roads.
The National Transport Policy was crafted to address the challenges facing the transport and communications sector in Zimbabwe.
COMMENTS
Obert putting the cart before the horse again. The biggest cause of accidents in Zimbabwe is potholes, animals on the road and unroadworthy vehicles. Because of the shambolic land reform program there is hardly any fencing between the roads and the land that has these animals roaming aimlessly on the roads. As usual an uninformed Minister who is out of touch with the Ministry he runs. Will dual roads stop animals from walking on them? Will the fill the potholes automatically? Silly man.
Biggest cause of accidents is drinking and driving. every police check point should have a breathelyser
No mention of the Harare/Beitbridge road, which carries the most traffic. And is in very poor condition.
And which investors will sink that many millions in there, just to be told that he needs to cede 51% of his investment?
Honestly these Zanu PF ministers would not get a job in private enterprise. They are totally useless.
And what about the road from Beitbridge to Harare?
it carries the most traffic, and is in terrible condition.
And which investor will come and pour millions in there just to be told later that they HAVE to cede 51 % to locals?
And what about the road from Beitbridge to Harare?
it carries the most traffic, and is in terrible condition.
And which investor will come and pour millions in there just to be told later that they HAVE to cede 51 % to locals?
These Zanu PF Cabinet ministers would not get a job in private enterprise, cause they are just useless.
Obert your time is running out ka.. you are so shallow and too blind to see the damage you caused to our road network which was once any envy to all in this region.. wave kuda kutsvaga mabiro emari manje nekupa ma contracts enhema kuma China.
I would have thought Beit Bridge/Harare/Chirundu would be absolute priority
One thing i like about the obidient doctor Mpofu is that he dreams big.
It can be achieved provided toll-gate fees are channeled towards this. At the moment toll charges are corruptly sustaining zanu pf operations and nothing else. Fences along our highways need to be re-erected to prevent livestock roaming into our roads, not withstanding the fact that the fences would soon find its way to the back yards of our ‘newly resettled farmers’. Who ever thought that the chaotic land reform would lead to chaos on our roads.
Where’s the money to come from? According to Chinamasa, only 7% of the country’s entire budget goes to non-wage expenditure. That figure includes ALL spending, not just for roads, but also for hospitals, schools, computers, office supplies, petrol, etc.
The Chinese will build the roads, they will need them when they visit their farms and industries and to transport their Zimbabwean slaves to and from work.
Start with some overtaking lanes, walk before you run!