admininfrastructure projects across the country.
CIFOZ is decrying the long-drawn-out completion of projects, namely the Beitbridge-Harare road, the Harare-Mutare-Plumtree road, and the RingRoad-Harare-Chirundu road.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Nicholas Goche, CIFOZ president Mr Philip Chiyangwa expressed concern at slow progress to “make closure on the nationally important issues.”
“Furthermore, our Beitbridge Border Post requires an urgent upgrade to conform to modern trends. Border posts are the face of our country as they encourage visitors and are the face of tourism,” he said.
The CIFOZ president alleged unspecified “interests” that he says are hindering the speedy implementation of the projects.
What is clear, however, is that Zimbabwe currently has no overarching policy document for the road sector. At the same time, outside arrangements such as Private-Public Partnerships and Build Operate and Transfer, the Government is constrained in funding such huge projects due to a tight fiscus.
The African Development Bank, in its Zimbabwe Infrastructure Report 2011, notes that the country has a very substantial road network relative to its gross domestic product.
For instance, the replacement value of the road network asset is estimated at about US$10 billion, equivalent to almost three times the current level of GDP, a ratio that is considered high in comparison with many developing countries.
The regional financier estimates rehabilitation of the entire road network to be around US$2,7 billion.
If implemented, however, rehabilitation and upgrade of the road network can have a strong, growth-promoting effect on the economy.
Online Reporter