Chronicle Editor
Chronicle Reporter
Government is happy with the work that is being done under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2) and has urged the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) to prioritise funding of some emotional roads under the same programme.
The ERRP2 publicity and communication committee which is exhibiting for the first time at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) yesterday hosted Vice President Chiwenga and stressed the importance of elevating communication around major flagship projects undertaken by the Second Republic.
VP Chiwenga appreciated the nexus between ERRP2 and Zinara as the two are exhibiting differently at the same stand.
Engineer Marone Pasipamire who is part of the ERRP2 publicity committee said Zinara and Treasury were the principal funders of ERRP2.
VP Chiwenga said Government was impressed with the amount of work covered under ERRP2 so far.
He instructed the Zinara chief executive officer Mr Nkosinathi Ncube to prioritise funding emotional roads that he singled out.
“I am happy with what you are doing here, keep it up,” said VP Chiwenga.
“Zinara, I want you to finish the Gwanda-Plumtree Road.
“Your focus should also be on the Rutenga-Boli-Sango Road which should be developed to match the development on the Mozambican side where the road is wide and tarred from Maputo up to the border with Zimbabwe. Karoi-Binga Road is also another key priority area for you.”
In his brief to the VP, Eng Pasipamire explained the efforts that were being made towards rehabilitation and maintenance of the country’s road network through ERRP2.
He said ERRP2 was laying a solid base for its successor programme which is called the Road Development Programme that aims at developing the country’s roads to meet world class standards in line with Vision 20230.
Under ERRP2, Eng Pasipamire said, Government was engaging local contractors as a way of capacitating them for the bigger road works expected in the country.
He said this was also in sync with the President’s philosophy that “nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.”
Government is using the ZITF exhibition as the launch pad for the broader ERRP2 publicity strategy that will be cascaded to all provinces soon showcasing flagship projects championed by President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic.
It is envisaged that the ERRP2 visibility and publicity activities will be undertaken through road shows and other educational initiatives.
VP Chiwenga was accompanied by Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Sekai Nzenza and Permanent Secretary in his Office Mrs Marcia Nyanda and senior Government officials.
Online Reporter