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Lovemore Chikova
Development Dialogue
Infrastructure development is moving at a fast pace in Zimbabwe, with observers noting its major role in moving forward the development agenda.
No area is being left behind as the development is taking place in sectors like road upgrading and rehabilitation, aviation and border posts upgrade.
Infrastructure development is meant to facilitate the ease of doing business by improving connectivity at both local and regional levels, thereby increasing transportation of goods and services.
The New Dispensation led by President Mnangagwa has since made its intention clear when it comes to the road infrastructure development.
Spearheaded by Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona, major developments in infrastructure are taking place in various parts of the country.
In this instalment, we explore infrastructure development through the lenses of Minister Mhona, who has been actively using his Twitter handle @MhonaFelix to document the progress being made.
On Monday this week, Minister Mhona posted: “Under ERRP2 (Emergency Road Repair Programme Phase 2), we are prioritising reconstruction of both roads in rural and urban areas. Government is delighted to announce that Bitumen World is going to start the reconstruction of Seke Road on 18 August, 2021. Brick by brick we are building Zim”.
In this tweet, Minister Mhona was commenting on the starting of works to rehabilitate Seke Road, a stretch of almost 30 kilometres from the Harare city centre to the dormitory town of Chitungwiza.
On August 6, Minister Mhona said: “Qatar Airways, which is one of the leading global airlines made its inaugural landing at RGMI (Robert Gabriel Mugabe International) Airport today, confirming that indeed our skies are open for business. This is a huge endorsement for Zim as we build our economy in line with Vision 2030”.
Minister Mhona was celebrating the inaugural Qatar Airways flight to Harare, connecting Zimbabwe to the massive hub airport at Doha, with all its connections around the world. Commenting on an article published in this column on July 23 headlined “Airlines interest in Zim a huge endorsement” Minister Mhona said: “Our open skies policy is paying positive dividends. In the Second Republic, we are indeed an investment destination of choice. Brick by brick, we are building Zimbabwe”.
On August 16, Minister Mhona was in Beitbridge where he posted pictures of the upgrading of the Beitbridge Border Post from where he posted: “Exceptional milestones championed by @edmnangagwa in the New Dispensation. The Second Republic is all about DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. This picture combo shows an aerial view of the remarkable progress on the upgrading of the BB Border Post”.
The tweet came following indication that work on the massive US$300 million modernisation of Beitbridge Border Post into a world class commercial hub has already gathered momentum, with major developments under the first phase of the project almost complete.
The modernisation of Beitbridge is one of the key projects being undertaken by the Second Republic to promote the ease of doing business and trade facilitation.
On July 4, Minister Mhona wrote: “Marvelous. This is part of the recently completed stretch near Beatrice along the Harare-Beitbridge Highway. Vision 2030 is achievable.”
The message was accompanied by a video showing an elegant part of the road that has been completed and opened to traffic.
Remarkable progress has since been made in the upgrading of the highway by local companies with the entire 274km stretch under Masvingo province expected to be completed by the end of next year as President Mnangagwa’s administration continues to fulfil its election promises.
The Second Republic undertook to embark on road infrastructural development as one of the key enablers to spur socio-economic growth towards Vision 2030 with rehabilitation and upgrading of the Harare-Beitbridge highway top of the priority list.
Five local firms — Tensor Systems, Fossil, Exodus and Company, Masimba Construction and Bitumen World — are rehabilitating the highway in a show of confidence for local expertise by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa.
The highway links Zimbabwe with its largest trading partner, South Africa, and also other African countries to the north.
Reacting to a story in the Chronicle headlined “Bulawayo makes emergency roads rehabilitation inroads” published on June 24, Minister Mhona tweeted: “Thank you Bulawayo. Together we can make Zimbabwe great.”
The story indicated that roadworks in Bulawayo under the Government-funded US$400 million ERRP2 recently launched by President Mnangagwa, had gathered pace, with significant progress being made on major feeder roads linking the city.
On June 22, Minister Mhona tweeted: “Following the launch of the ERRP2 by His Excellency @edmnangagwa, we have intensified road works. More work is going to be witnessed once the road authorities complete their procurement processes.”
He was responding to a story headlined: “State of roads improving, parly told”. This came out during a parliamentary portfolio committee which heard that Government had gone overdrive on repairing roads and bridges under the second phase of the ERRP.
With a budget of $33,6 billion and the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) already disbursing $2,3 billion, 165km of road have been rehabilitated throughout the country, while pothole patching has covered 7 515km.
On June 18, Minister Mhona tweeted, “I took the opportunity to tour the Bindura-Matepatepa Road. The road was inaccessible and was rehabilitated by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development. The road is a catalyst for business for farmers in Matepatepa”
On June 10, he tweeted: “Today I am on my second visit to Beitbridge assessing expansion of the border post. The progress is quite pleasing. Land clearing has commenced for the construction of 240 housing units and water reservoir that will supply the entire Beitbridge town.”
This was after he toured the construction works under the US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post upgrading and modernisation of the project, which is being implemented by the Government and the Zimborders consortium.
Minister Mhona visited Zimbabwe’s dry port in Namibia and tweeted on May 31: “I had a working visit to the Zim Dry port in Namibia on Friday. This facility presents great trade opportunities for Zim and the rest of the world.”
During the working visit, Zimbabwe and Namibia launched a joint bid to promote and market the newly established dry port facility in Walvis Bay.
On May 27, Minister Mhona tweeted: “In the Second Republic we believe more in action and less sloganeering. Today I toured this US$153 million RGM International Airport expansion project which is now at an advanced stage. Brick by brick we are building Zimbabwe”.
China Jiangsu International company is carrying out the expansion which will see the construction of the international terminal building and aprons, installation of four new bridges, a secondary radar system, construction of a VVIP pavilion and an airfield ground lighting and communication system.
Reacting to news that rehabilitation work on the Binga airstrip had started, Minister Mhona tweeted: “In the Second Republic, we are not leaving anyone behind in terms of development. Binga has great tourism potential with the capacity to transform that area’s economic fortunes.”
On May 7, he tweeted: “Victoria Falls International Airport is key to both local and international tourism. Today I toured the airport to understand operational challenges there. Together we can make Zimbabwe great. #NDS1”.
Victoria Falls International Airport was upgraded to international standards and can now accommodate wide body planes and was equipped with modern aviation equipment.
Minister Mhona tweeted on May 5: “Engagement and re-engagement drive being championed by His Excellency the President @edmnangagwa is bearing positive fruits. The commissioning of this project funded by Japan in Makuti today is one classic example of such effort.”
This was after rehabilitated part of the Harare-Chirundu Highway was officially opened by President Mnangagwa.
On May 3 Minister Mhona tweeted: “In developing Zimbabwe, we are taking everyone on board. Yesterday we had a fruitful meeting in Silobela where we explained our plans for road development including the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme. Together we can achieve Vision 2030.”
On April 29, he wrote: “Walking the talk… following the launch of ERRP2 by His Excellency the President @edmnangagwa in Nyakasikana, Karanda recently, we have intensified road works across the country.”
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