The rapidly deteriorating infrastructure requires at least US$16 billion for rehabilitation and upgrading but government is not in a position to finance this key sector, according to Deputy Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development mi-nister Tichaona Mudzingwa.
Investor apathy has compounded the crisis.
Mudzingwa said a limited number of international investors, including the Chinese, had expressed interest in investing in the country’s infrastructure.
“Government is not in a position to finance meaningful changes to the existing infrastructure,” he said.
“One certain fact is that there will be no infrastructure development that adds value unless there is at least 60% participation from the private sector.”
Despite the existence of investment incentives such as the build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangements, investment has not been forthcoming.
This is also despite assurances made by the three principals in the inclusive government that Zimbabwe is a safe investment destination.
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An official document detailing the country’s infrastructure investment opportunities shows that Zimbabwe needs at least US$1 billion for the rehabilitation of primary, secondary and tertiary road networks while an additional US$1,7 billion is needed for the dualisation of trunk roads.
Mudzingwa said a Chinese company, whose name he was not at liberty to divulge, is assessing the feasibility of investing in the upgrading of the Harare-Chinhoyi-Chirundu road.
“On another note, we are aware of a South African company that has shown interest in upgrading the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge road but we are awaiting their proposal as soon as they complete their project studies,” he said.
SA firm to develop Masvingo Road
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development is awaiting a proposal by South African company that has shown interest in upgrading the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge roadDeputy minister Tichaona Mudzingwa said the ministry was also studying the extent of capital expenditure required for the project and whether the amount required for rehabilitation was in tandem with expected returns.
The Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge road, which is of strategic value to South African transport companies in accessing other regional countries, requires an upgrading investment of at least US$500 million.
Mudzingwa said haulage trucks plying the route were damaging the roads and fired a broadside at the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (Zinara) for not adequately maintaining the roads as per its mandate.
The road authority has collected an estimated US$1,3 million in revenue from tollgates ever since the inception of the inclusive government in 2009 but the roads have not witnessed any improvements.
“In any system with a culture of embezzlement such scenes are likely to occur. There have been leakages in Zinara and massive prejudicing at tollgates,” he said, adding that the ministry has put in place “certain” measures to plug the “financial swindling occurring at tollgates.”
