By Staff Reporter
Government has committed a sum of ZW$33.6 billion to rapidly rehabilitate 10,000 kilometres of Zimbabwe’s roads that were heavily damaged by rains.
Speaking at the launch of the Second Phase of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2) in Mt Darwin today, President Mnangagwa said his Government had a vision of rehabilitating about 10 000 kilometres of road infrastructure across the country.
“In this regard, ZW$33.6 billion has been set aside for this Second Phase of the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme. The programme sets out an ambitious and yet achievable target of rehabilitating 10 000 kilometres of road infrastructure of which one thousand kilometres is in Mashonaland Central Province,” said the President.
The President further said that good roads and a good transport network were vital in the development of the nation.
“This programme is vital given that roads are intricately linked with our economy within the country and beyond. Furthermore, a good transport network is an important cog in the realization of a wide array of the sector priorities and objectives outlined in the National Development Strategy One as we journey towards Vision 2030,” added the President.
Apart from launching the ERRP2, the President also commissioned the critical Karanda Bridge which will enable communities easy access to the famous Karanda Mission hospital that does not only service Mashonaland Central but the whole country.
“The completion of Karanda Bridge is a demonstration of the Second Republic’s commitment to road infrastructure rehabilitation and modernization. It will bring relief to commuters to surrounding communities, particularly patients accessing Karanda Mission Hospital,” said the President.
President Mnangagwa said the construction of Karanda Bridge was wholly funded by Treasury using internal resources.
On 9 February this year, Government declared the state of all roads a National Disaster thereby giving impetus to the operationalization of the Second Phase of the ERRP2.
President Mnangagwa was accompanied by Vice President Chiwenga and other senior government officials.
