The Sunday News
Transportgeography.org says; “the transport sector is an important component of the economy and a common tool used for development. This is even more so in a global economy where economic opportunities have been increasingly related to the mobility of people and freight, including information and communication technologies. A relation between the quantity and quality of transport infrastructure and the level of economic development is apparent.
High-density transport infrastructure and highly connected networks are commonly associated with high levels of development. When transport systems are efficient, they provide economic and social opportunities and benefits that result in positive multiplier effects such as better accessibility to markets, employment, and additional investments.
When transport systems are deficient in terms of capacity or reliability, they can have an economic cost such as reduced or missed opportunities and lower quality of life.”
The World Bank adds that transport is a crucial driver of economic growth, poverty reduction, and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In addition, transport infrastructure and services still need to be made safer, cleaner and more affordable, particularly in developing countries.
Provision of transportation needs to respond to: increasing urbanisation and motorisation with solutions for urban mobility; rural poverty with more efficient and long-lasting accessibility solutions; and the need to make lower- and middle-income countries more competitive in the global market.
The transport sector must be more responsive to create long-term skilled employment, to reduce the cost element of attaining food security, and to address mitigation and adaption to climate change.
We therefore applaud Government for paying particular attention to repairing roads in the country, especially at time when the bulk of the road network has been destroyed by continuous rains.
Last week, Cabinet approved an Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme which will gobble approximately US$400 million for the roads rehabilitation and reconstruction.
In a post Cabinet briefing last Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Hon Monica Mutsvangwa said this was done in response to the roads that were damaged by the heavy rains experienced in the country this season.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the roads rehabilitation will be implemented in phases over a period of three years.
“On the repair of roads damaged by the current rains as well as previous cyclones, Cabinet approved an Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme consisting of corrective, preventive and restoration works.
The project will take up an initial US$80 million for emergency road works covering 60 days; US$120 million for preventive works spanning six months; US$120 million for rehabilitation and reconstruction works spanning six to 18 months; and US$80 million for other related works spanning 18 to 36 months,” she said.
The Government has taken the lead in mobilising funds for the repair and rehabilitation of the country’s roads abandoned for long by local authorities and have now become death traps for the travelling public.
Although the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) collects road toll fees, it then disburses the funds to local authorities, most of which have been found wanting as they divert the funds instead of maintaining roads.
“Cabinet has resolved that all roads in the country be declared a State of Disaster. The declaration will facilitate the release of resources for the repair and rehabilitation of all roads that require such works. The restorative works will cover all urban areas as well as the rural and trunk roads.
“It will also pave the way for the standardisation of quality under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. The necessary legal procedures to give effect to the declaration is being worked on.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said the bad roads rendered some places inaccessible, thereby cutting them off from amenities.
