Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Writer
THE Government has intensified efforts to modernise Zimbabwe’s transport network, with the Matabeleland region set to benefit from a major road rehabilitation drive. The project, which is part of a nationwide initiative to improve connectivity, is expected to unlock economic opportunities in rural provinces.
Work on the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road is progressing rapidly, with a recently rehabilitated section linking Bulawayo and Inyathi now open to motorists. Contractors have completed critical work near Turk Mine, priming and laying gravel on a section of the road in the final stage before tarring.
After touring the road on Friday, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, said the Government was committed to upgrading the country’s entire road network.
“Government has taken a deliberate approach to accelerate road rehabilitation projects and kilometre by kilometre all the critical roads that were previously not attended to will be upgraded. With the advent of the Second Republic, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, we are seeing that unlike in the past, the rehabilitation of roads is moving with speed.
“I want to assure the people of this region that the road will be upgraded right into Nkayi. Working together with Zinara (Zimbabwe National Roads Agency) and the private sector, the ministry has mobilised resources. I came to tour the project as a way of also assuring the people of Matabeleland that the region is not forgotten; we will make sure that the critical roads in the region are upgraded,” he said.
Minister Mhona also highlighted that the Government is forging ahead with infrastructure projects using local resources due to sanctions imposed on the country.
“The President has said because we can’t access funds from the World Bank, IMF (International Monetary Fund), and other international funds due to illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, we have to raise funds from the domestic purse for infrastructural developments, and that is precisely what we are doing.
“The contractor started working about two weeks ago and the progress so far shows that the rehabilitation project is moving with great speed. It’s important to understand that the country has 10 provinces and the mandate of the ministry is to administer the limited resources that we get for road rehabilitation projects in all corners of the country,” he said.
Regarding the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, Minister Mhona said upgrades were progressing well, with five contractors on site. He noted the road’s importance to the tourism sector and the economy.
“Quality is of paramount importance because we don’t want to come back next year after the rainy season and find the road littered with potholes,” he said.
Bubi Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Dr Patson Mlilo, said the improved road would be a game-changer for investment.
“The road is just 60 kilometres long from Bulawayo to Inyathi Business Centre, but it took close to two hours to travel, so it’s not a secret that investors will shun such an area. We hope that when the rehabilitation works are complete, investors will start taking an interest in our rural district council. As a rural district council, we want to see wholesalers, manufacturers of different commodities, and suppliers of fresh products such as bread and milk coming here for business, and that way our local economy will grow,” Dr Mlilo said.
Bubi legislator and Higher Education Deputy Minister, Simelisizwe Sibanda, said the area would benefit economically.
“It’s difficult for businesses to invest in an area with a bad road network, and because of the improvement that we are witnessing on the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, we will see a lot of investors coming into the district.
“The coming of businesses will eradicate monopoly by the few players that have established businesses in the district, and that in turn will result in competition, causing prices of goods and services to go down,” said Deputy Minister Sibanda.
He noted that high transport charges on the route would drop as more operators are attracted to the improved road network.
“The transport fares from Bulawayo to Nkayi are high simply because we have fewer public transport operators who are plying this route.
“When more players come in, transport fares will drop, and people will have more disposable income to channel to other needs,” he said.—Zimpapers
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