Chronicle Editor
Stephen Mpofu, Perspective
THE heading of today’s discourse is an attempt by this pen to describe how goods and services are wont — AND MUST — move along dilapidated states of Zimbabwe’s roads and rail systems to achieve developmental goals our nation has set for itself to counter the effects of western imperialism’s economic sanctions aimed at deposing the incumbent Zanu-PF government to make way for a neo-colonial country governed by those that thumb their congested noses at the armed revolution which in 1980 brought about independence, self-determination and pride among people of this beloved country of ours.
But, of course, we the proud owners of our motherland must work behind and on the roads and railway networks to ensure that whether some people in our country or abroad like it or not the mantra that is, and must be regarded as being, synonymous with our national flag — that a country is built by its owners, leaving no one behind, becomes motivational for Zimbabweans pro or against the ruling Zanu-PF government since economic and social developmental successes are wont to benefit all Zimbabwean stomachs regardless of political persuasions those who carry the bellies in point subscribe to.
Which in this communicologist’s humble opinion suggests that after last year’s harmonised elections in which the revolutionary party Zanu-PF again emerged victorious, no effort should be spared to ensure that goods and services are delivered where these are needed to effect developmental goals already set — and railways and roads are the backbones for the deliverance of the goods and services in point which must of necessity fulfil our Government’s proud mantra whether Zimbabwe’s foreign economic embargo enthusiasts and their local stooges like it or not.
Therefore, those in Government who must ensure that our roads and railways are travelable must hear a clarion call whether in their sleep or during restful breaks away from work on holidays for people to be able to move goods and services to any and every part of Zimbabwe to improve national developmental goals for our one country, one nation with bellies that regard feeding as their only politics.
But alas, roads across many provinces are in a dilapidated state as is our railway system where passenger trains may be said without any intended exaggeration to have become fairytales for those Zimbabweans born a decade or nearly a decade ago as only goods-trains travel chug along the rundown railway line between Bulawayo and Harare, for instance with rail passenger services to other local destinations no longer in existence for the same rundown conditions of tracks in point.
These days people complain of potholed urban streets that impair smooth human or motorised traffic.
However, a journey on some roads between urban and rural areas is wont to make any traveller wonder to what use the devolution fund, which is supposed to improve road conditions, countrywide, is being put.
Recently a family travelling from Johannesburg to Bulawayo for their Christmas holiday had three tyres punctured after crossing the Beitbridge Border Post and had to summon a relative in Bulawayo, also related to this writer, to rescue them.
The termination of a passenger service train from Bulawayo to Rutenga is also causing gargantuan problems for those who must now try to reach their destinations by road as buses from Zvishavane to the south of the country have either stopped operating on the potholed road or are charging astronomical fares along with private motorists who take advantage of desperate stranded travellers.
Donkey carts are having to be used in some cases to transport stranded villagers and other travellers from one area to another.
But how those compromised transport services can move goods and services to inner parts of districts where development is required is for any reasonable mind to conjecture.
Which obviously suggests to anyone reading this discourse that Government officials responsible for roads and railway systems will redouble their efforts this year, external funding from Zimbabwe’s all-weather allies allowing plus complementary local funding and services so that our people will collectively not only believe but demonstrate our indomitable selves for development that leaves no one and no place behind as the President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly exhorted our nation.
Online Reporter