Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
TRANSPORT and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has thanked motorists and Zimbabweans for their patience following delays in the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, which stalled due to funding constraints.
Minister Mhona said Government had embarked on an extensive resource mobilisation exercise during the year, resulting in the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) securing a US$400 million ring-fenced loan from a financial institution to fund three major highways, including the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road.
He was speaking during a tour of the strategic highway.
“I want to also thank the people of Zimbabwe for their patience. You know, we started this project last year, and it stalled. But during the course of the year, we were busy mobilizing funding, and we managed to come up with an infrastructure bond, which is being supported by Zinara funds that are ring-fenced, together with Treasury,” said Minister Mhona.
He said the secured funding should enable contractors to continue working on the project without further interruptions.
“So we have assured all the contractors that, yes, we have come to witness the workmanship that they are doing. We also have our resident engineers to allay fears from the public that some of our roads are being done in a shoddy manner,” said Minister Mhona.
He said the Ministry had reminded contractors that the project was being funded through public resources and that they were therefore accountable to Zimbabweans for the quality of work delivered.
