adminTHE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development will soon meet local authorities in the country with the aim of getting their input in coming up with a Zimbabwe National Transport Master Plan.
In a circular written to the Urban Council Association of Zimbabwe, the ministry states that the motives of the meeting will be to get local authorities to share their challenges and views regarding the country’s transport sector.
“As you may be probably aware, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has appointed CPCS as the consultant for the preparation of the Zimbabwe National Transport Master Plan (ZNTMP).
“We are requesting to meet with you at a time convenient for you to discuss the challenges, issues, system efficiency and any other issues affecting the Urban Council Association of Zimbabwe and its members regarding the transport sector,” reads part of the circular.
According to the ministry the overall strategy for the master plan is to obtain data and information on the existing activities in the transport sector.
“The results of the analysis will be used to model and project the requirements needed to cater for the projected inter-modal traffic demand over the planned life period of 20 years. The plan will review and assess the impact and contribution of any approved and planned projects on the master plan.
“The plan will be modelled as a bankable blueprint with a proposed budget, setting achievable priorities in all the inter-modal sectors. In short, the assignment will entail the project initiation phase of data gathering, followed by analysis of the existing scenarios, then projections and modelling for future requirements of the plan life of 20 years,” reads the circular.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Cde Jorum Gumbo confirmed the developments noting that this was an ongoing process and they expected all councils to be fully co-operative.
“We are working closely with the councils so as to complete this process and finally come up with our master plan and we expect all councils to be fully co-operative in this endeavour,” said the Minister.
Transport and infrastructure are critical in the successful implementation of the Government’s blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset 2013-2018). The transport sector master plan promotes inclusive growth and is deliberatively designed to champion gender and equity in the distribution of transport infrastructure and services. Zimbabwe is a landlocked country hence national and regional transport connectivity is a necessary condition for promoting economic activity and cross border trade.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is responsible for the overall management of transport policy and regulation as well as the administration of road, rail, aviation and inland water transport.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo