By Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI- The Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has secured funding from the Development Bank of South Africa for the upgrade and modernization of Sango Border Post, as well as construction of the 149.9-kilometer Sango-Rutenga/Chiredzi road.
This was revealed in Parliament by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joshua Kurt Sacco after Chiredzi Central Member of Parliament, Ropafadzo Makumire raised a motion asking government’s plan towards the construction of a 149.9 kilometer stretch of road from Sango border post to Rutenga and Chiredzi.
Sango Border Post is the shortest route to Maputo Port, which is one of the busiest ports in the region.
In his response to Makumire’s question, Deputy Minister Sacco highlighted that the Government had secured funding for the upgrade and modernization of Sango Border Post.
“The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development acknowledges that this road is part of the Maputo Corridor and as such requires immediate attention.
“In this regard, the Ministry is seized with negotiations with an investor but had secured funding from DBSI, which is the Development Bank of South Africa to fund the cost of work within the scope, including the upgrade and modernization of the Sango Border Post.
“The same investor has been awarded the Sango-Chikwalakwala Border Post and the road on the Mozambican side to ensure that there is no dead end. Direct access to Maputo Post which is one of the busiest ports in the region. We intend to implement the project through public-private-partnership with more earthworks earmarked to commence this year, 2024.
“The Investor shall self-finance the initial cost of the road and get repaid through ring-fencing trophies accruing at Toll Plazas to be constructed along the road as part of this work,” said Sacco.
