adminGOVERNMENT will next year start a rehabilitation programme of the country’s major highways through the Build Operate and Transfer approach.Zimbabwe’s road network is in urgent need of repair following years of neglect due to lack of funding needed to maintain them.
According to a Trade and Transport Facilitation Assessment report done by the Government and the World Bank mid-year, Zimbabwe needs about US$4,2 billion to repair its road network.
Economists contend that Zimbabwe should urgently rehabilitate its road network in order to improve trade facilitation and reduce transport costs.
“The Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development intends to rehabilitate and widen a number of State highways, totalling 16 road and bridge projects, and it is intended that this be done through the BOT approach,” the ministry said in a tender invitation.
Tenders for the project will close on February 21, next year. Zimbabwe’s infrastructure including roads, railways, dams and power plants have been starved of finance following a decade-long economic meltdown which eased when the country adopted a multiple currency regime in 2009. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter