Dr Joram Gumbo
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Dr Joram Gumbo has urged road authorities to incorporate local Members of Parliament on road rehabilitation programmes and to create private/public partnerships (PPPs) as funds from the fiscus alone are not enough.
Addressing district administrators and local authorities at Hippo Valley Country Club last week, Gumbo urged those responsible for roads maintenance to innovate strategies for resource mobilisation.
He said much of the local road network has outlived its lifespan with US$5.5 billion needed for rehabilitation.
He said the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) annual revenue, which he claimed stood at US$200 million, was inadequate.
“We urge road authorities to pursue innovative strategies like PPPs where applicable. We also encourage them to mobilise funds from local financial institutions. This applies to any other willing individuals and institutions with free funds that can be directed to revamping the road network.
“We have to come up with home grown solutions to our problems therefore I urge you to play your role in making our dream of a world class road network come true.
“As you come up with your priorities in respect of the rehabilitation of roads in this province, I urge you to consult and involve local Members of Parliament as they play a pivotal role in all developmental projects.
“To strengthen synergies, Zinara is deploying provincial managers to enhance visibility through working together with road authorities and legislators. This, in my view, will avoid a situation where the ministry and Zinara are overwhelmed by different requests for road rehabilitation by legislators and road authorities from similar jurisdiction,” Gumbo said.local
