TRANSPORT and Infrastructural Development minister Joram Gumbo says there is an urgent need for investment in the country’s road sector amid revelations that $500 million is required annually for the country’s road network.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
Addressing delegates at the inaugural infrastructure conference in Bulawayo yesterday, Gumbo said all road networks in the country were in a poor state.
“As a country, we are in urgent need of investment in our road sector. In the early 1980s development agencies funded some of our roads projects. Donor funding is, however, no longer available and what we now need is sustainable investment based on our own resources,” he said.
“Most of our roads are beyond the stage of routine and periodic maintenance interventions that would normally be carried out. Our roads are in need of total rehabilitation and we need to attract investors to fund the programmes.”
Gumbo said, as government they wanted the roads widened, fence erected and signage put up.
However, all this needed funding and the country was broke, he said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Gumbo said over the next five to 10 years, the country needed about $5 billion for its road network, translating to $500 million annually. However, in 2015, Gumbo said the government only disbursed about $6 million which is far from what they needed.
“The biggest challenge that my ministry is facing is shortage of funding to various road programmes. This has taken trend over the years and resulting in a huge backlog with road maintenance, hence the poor condition of our national road network,” he said.
The country has a total of 95 000 kilometres of road network, of which 70% is gravel.
Gumbo said he was concerned about continued loss of lives on Zimbabwe’s roads due to their poor condition.
He invited the private sector to chip in through public-private partnerships (PPPs), adding that a poorly maintained road infrastructure hindered growth and raised transaction costs in the country.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National Revenue Authority has to date disbursed about 46% of $48 million annual budget to road authorities.
“So we are actually on track on disbursements. We are targeting to disburse $48 million in 2016 and to date my office has disbursed $22 million,” acting CEO Moses Juma said.
The expo kicked off yesterday and runs until Friday in Bulawayo under the theme “Unearthing Opportunities”, will be officially opened by Chidakwa today, where he is expected to launch a $5 million facility for small-scale miners.
Mine Entra is Zimbabwe’s biggest exhibition for the mining, engineering and transport sectors and their associated industries.
