Staff Reporter

President Mnangagwa is steadfast in his determination to improve Zimbabwe's road network, with the Government adopting a "kilometre by kilometre" approach, strategy aimed at gradually enhancing the country's road infrastructure.

Speaking during a tour of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Julius Nyerere Road in Harare yesterday, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Felix Mhona, said that the President recognises that a good road network was important for the development of the nation.

“President Mnangagwa’s commitment to bolstering infrastructure is a cornerstone of the Second Republic’s agenda. In any given economy, you need good infrastructure, and today (yesterday), you have seen that we are serious as Government as far as road construction and rehabilitation are concerned.

“We need to move with speed when it comes to the implementation of road infrastructure. With rehabilitation efforts underway and a resolute commitment from the Government, the country stands poised to witness substantial improvements in its road network, fostering economic growth and national prosperity,” Minister Mhona asserted.

Minister Mhona said that the road rehabilitation efforts will not be confined to Harare alone but will cascade to other areas of the country.

“The rehabilitation of roads is not confined to Harare alone. We are also going to rehabilitate other roads across the country until we have good roads. Government is committed to equitable development across all provinces,” Minister Mhona affirmed.

Minister Mhona explicitly refuted the notion that the road rehabilitation efforts in Harare were under the purview of the City of Harare, clarifying that it was the Government that was financing the road rehabilitation works.

The Minister underscored the necessity for this intervention, citing the observed neglect by the City of Harare in maintaining and servicing the roads. Meanwhile, yesterday, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) announced its forthcoming implementation of e-tolling before the year's end, aiming at enhancing efficiency, motorists' convenience, and reducing operational costs.

Zinara’s board chairman, Dr George Manyaya, said that e-tolling, a cashless system, enables road users to make payments for road usage seamlessly through card facilities or e-tags at toll gates, eliminating the need for vehicles to stop for transactions.

Dr Manyaya said that this streamlined process eliminates physical toll booths on highways, with the first pilot project anticipated to commence before June's end.

He emphasised plans to upgrade three tollgates to toll plazas as part of the Second Republic's initiatives to alleviate congestion and bolster revenue collection.