By Rudo Saungweme

Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joel Biggie Matiza said that the major thrust of his Ministry was to make the country an international transport hub by 2020 through modernisation of the road, rail and air transport.

The minister said his Ministry managed to maintain major roads across the country despite receiving only 19 percent of their budget allocation. To that effect, Minister Matiza said that the Harare-Beitbridge highway dualisation project would be completed by 2023.

So far, the Beitbridge-Bubi 100km stretch was contracted to Bitumen contractors with the first 20km from the border post set to be completed in the next seven months.

Minister Matiza said that the Cabinet approved the recapitalisation of National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) in order to recapitalise it, adding that he directed NRZ to do an urgent flight for a new tender following the cancellation of the previous US $400 billion Transnet / Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG) project which NRZ was in partnership with the diasporas.

The new tender is seeking equity unlike the previous one that wanted various funding options.

Minister Matiza said that his ministry is working to ensure that Air Zimbabwe increases its fleet from the current two planes it have.

The Minister added that his ministry is making efforts to expand and renovate Robert Mugabe International Airport which is expected to be completed by 2020.