The Sunday News
The Sunday News is publishing parts of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme Reforms Agenda to conscientise the public on the Government’s new economic trajectory.
Roads Development Programme
A comprehensive Roads Development Programme, with support from the fiscus, and targeting upgrades from gravel to bituminous surfacing is already underway at an average cost of US$500 000 per kilometre.
The target is to complete 20km for each road every year until completion.
The targeted roads, being implemented under the Department of Roads Provincial Road Engineers in each province, estimated to cost US$542 million, are as follows: Matabeleland South Provincial Roads — Gwanda-Maphisa, Maphisa-Mpoengs, Gwanda-Guyu-Manama-Tuli. Matebeleland North — Dete-Binga Road and Binga-Karoi Road. Midlands — Mberengwa-West Nicholson, Gokwe-Siyabuwa, Kwekwe-Nkayi, Mberengwa-Mataga, Jeka Bridge, Kwekwe-Gokwe and Kawonga Shelvert. Mashonaland East — Hwedza-Sadza, Mushandirapamwe-Hwedza, Beatrice-Mubaira, Zaire- Chingondo. Mashonaland Central — Guruve-Kanyemba, Mt Darwin-Mukumbura.
Mashonaland West — Golden Valley-Sanyati, Skyline-Mubaira — Chegutu, Alaska-Copper Queen, Kirkman Road.
Masvingo — Kapota-Zimuto, Chilonga Bridge, Gutu-Buhera, Mhandamahwe-Chivi-Tokwe, Rutenga-Zvishavane, Chartsworth-Gutu, Rutenga-Boli-Chicualacuala. Manicaland — Ngundu-Tanganda, Nyamangura Bridge, Murambinda-Birchnough, Nyanga — Ruwangwe, Odzi — Marange-Zviripiri.
Matabeleland North — Bulawayo-Nkayi, Bulawayo-Tsholotsho, Ingwingwisi Bridge. With regards to DDF, Treasury has already disbursed US$11,2 million towards re-gravelling of feeder roads and bridge construction countrywide, with an additional US$15 million being targeted for 2019.
In addition, IDBZ has been involved in the monitoring of the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme by Government that covered 8 Provinces where it facilitated the disbursement of US$24,1 million. Some of the roads monitored include the Harare-Mutare Road dualisation (5,5km), Goromonzi Turnoff-Tollgate, Bindura-Shamva (4,4 km), Harare-Bulawayo Road dualisation (9 km), and Norton Turnoff-Tollgate.
In collaboration with relevant authorities, IDBZ is planning to get involved in the preparation and construction of the Chitungwiza-Harare Rail link and play an advisory role on the following road expansion projects: Harare-Nyamapanda,
Bulawayo-Victoria Falls, Mutare-Christmas Pass, Kwekwe-Silobela-Nkayi-Lupane, New Victoria Falls Bridge.
Zinara: Lessons will be drawn from construction and rehabilitation of 823km highway from Plumtree to Mutare through Zinara’s Special Purpose Vehicle, Infralink Private Limited, jointly owned by Zinara and Group 5, with a shareholding of 70 and 30 percent, respectively. Plans to construct and rehabilitate the country’s road infrastructure to assist kick start economic activity are already underway with the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme having created 534 jobs in Matabeleland South alone.
Through the Zinara Infrastructure Bond, US$400 million will be raised in 2018 and 2019 from the market in support of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme and hot spots rehabilitation. Targeted roads through the Road Fund include the following:
In Bulawayo, City Council is in the process of refurbishing major and artery roads through surfacing, pothole filling, resealing and reconstruction, among other projects and the target is to cover the entire network of 2 100 km at a cost of US$750 million. In Harare, an amount of US$1,2 billion will be needed to rehabilitate the 4 500km network as well as expand and construct interchanges at major intersections along Harare Drive. For the 32 urban councils, the Road Fund is availing US$44 million for routine and periodic maintenance during 2018.
The 60 RDCs will receive US$32,5 million for grading and re-gravelling of rural roads. The Department of Roads and DDF will receive US$40 million and US$25 million respectively, for routine and periodic maintenance as well as bridge repairs. Support will also be made to DDF for procurement of road equipment amounting to US$8,3 million.
Airports: Under the Plan, the upgrading of the R G Mugabe International Airport will be pursued at a cost of US$153 million which entails upgrading of the runway, construction of new terminal building, additional four aero-bridges, and communication system, among others. Furthermore, procurement of five weather radar systems, to be networked around the country, at a cost of about US$6,5 million will be prioritised.
Rail: The recapitalisation of NRZ has commenced with the injection of US$400 million in capital under a joint venture which will enable the parastatal to refurbish existing rolling stock and track infrastructure, including procurement of new assets.
Environmental Protection and Reclamation
Reclamation of Gokwe Centre gully now complete. Gokwe Town, including the DAs Office, the new Court Building, Police Station and civil servants’ residences were on the brink of collapse due to a gully which was eating its way towards the Town Centre. Reclamation of small-scale miners’ degradation, including de-siltation of waterways and scooping of dams.
The Environmental Management Agency is investing in the latest chemical monitoring technology following an influx of imported chemicals in the country and a rise in chemical spillages, especially on the country’s highways, which is posing health risks to communities and the environment.
The management of chemicals in Zimbabwe was presenting great challenges given that the quality and quantity of chemicals being imported is on the increase.
Zimbabwe, being a transit corridor, implies that the volume of chemicals transiting through Zimbabwe requires improved emergency response mechanisms. Need for environmentally sound management of hazardous and other waste.
Veld fires — these threaten the environment, with potential to also destroy late planted crops, hence, the need for the relevant stakeholders to broaden preventive measures.
Artisanal Miners and the Environment — The rise in artisanal and small-scale gold mining is seeing increased use of mercury in gold processing, with several environmental contamination contributing to serious health and ecological impacts.
Mercury is a persistent, highly toxic heavy metal whose continued inhalation can cause death.
Research by UNIDO conducted between 2007 and 2012 estimated artisanal and small-scale miners in Zimbabwe, and mostly from vulnerable backgrounds, at over 500 000 with the number expected to have increased over the years.
Concerns on the negative impacts of mercury gave rise to the promulgation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury of October 2013, an International Treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from human-induced emissions and releases of mercury and its compounds.
Zimbabwe is one of the 128 countries which signed the Convention and is working towards ratification.
The Convention aims at managing use of mercury in an efficient, effective and coherent manner, while member States work towards its total elimination.
The Convention recognises the need for the development of sustainable technologies to extract gold in preparation for the restrictions that will be imposed on trade in mercury. Once ratified, it will provide direction on development of national legislation to tackle control of use and influx of mercury.
Toxic mercury vapour impacts negatively on miners and their families and nearby communities. Most gold mining activities are carried out in rivers and streams which drain into dams and lakes, contaminating water which accumulates in sediments and bio-accumulates in fish and tissues in other aquatic species.
Once present in aquatic ecosystems, elemental and inorganic mercury can undergo transformations to methylated mercury species and enter the food web and highly level predators such as birds, water mammals and humans will be in danger of contamination. Environmental Management Agency (Ema) conducts awareness programmes on artisanal miners and other stakeholders, in all the 10 provinces on the dangers associated with the use of mercury. Small-scale gold mining is one of the major release source of mercury in Zimbabwe.
It is estimated that the sector is responsible for the release of over 1 600 tonnes of mercury per year to the air and on the land.
Health: Health infrastructure will be upgraded to enable provision of comprehensive health services and re-establishment of the referral system. Access will be enhanced through construction of additional facilities especially in new resettlement areas as well as those areas where current facilities are failing to meet demand. Construction of 63 Rural Health Posts, covering a staff house and basic equipment for primary care at a cost of US$4,4 million.
The target is to construct 6 602 throughout the country that will provide the first line of defence in disease prevention and treatment.
Commencement of works for the construction of two district hospitals for both Harare and Bulawayo at a cost of US$240 million.
Rehabilitation and upgrading of infrastructure at provincial hospitals will also be prioritised including the construction of Lupane Provincial Hospital which is expected to commence in 2019.
Through the IDBZ and in the health sector, plans are advanced to roll out medical staff accommodation (on-site) across the country and academic and medical staff accommodation.
