PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has demanded a “business unusual” approach to doing business from his lieutenants in order to deliver social services to the people.
BY Staff reporter
Officially opening the $15,8 million Harare Airport Road yesterday, Mugabe used the occasion to call for a stop to vandalism of infrastructure.
“Our country has been under siege from almost a decade and a half and we cannot afford a business as usual approach to work if we are to respond adequately to the needs of the populace providing for their basic expectations,” he said.
With most telecommunications and road infrastructure now in a deplorable state due to vandalism and neglect, Mugabe said Zimbabweans should now adopt zero tolerance to the scourge of vandalism. He called on government functionaries to demand high quality work from contractors.
“Clearly, infrastructure development is expensive, hence whenever we undertake such projects we must demand that the product be of high quality, durable and give good value for money once completed. Substandard work should never be tolerated. In this regard, we must always ensure qualified contractors are engaged and that they are strictly supervised to guarantee acceptable results.
“As a nation, we should collectively fight to put an end to vandalism of our infrastructure. It is totally unacceptable that after completion of such a high quality project, road signage and other road furniture are vandalised,” he said.
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Transport minister Jorum Gumbo told journalists afterwards that the government was looking at possible partnerships to revive the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) in order to reduce the pressure on national roads.
“Most of our roads have been damaged because heavy goods that are supposed to be moved by rail are being transported by road. This has increased pressure on our roads, hence we are looking for funding and considering options to resuscitate the NRZ. Most of its signals are damaged and there are no wagons. We need to revive this,” Gumbo said.
Mugabe said the Airport Road was “very strategic” as it leads to the main international airport in the country.
A public-private-partnership between Harare City Council and Augur Investments collapsed, forcing the government to take over the construction of the road.
Gumbo said the second phase of the project would require $55 million to complete.
