Staff Reporter
Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Mike Madiro has highlighted that National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) is key to infrastructure development.
Addressing journalists on the occasion to announce the closure of Mbudzi Roundabout in the capital yesterday, Deputy Minister Madiro said that NDS1 prioritized infrastructure as one of the developments of attaining an Upper Middle Income Status.
“The NDS1 prioritizes infrastructure as one of the development requirements to reach the Upper Middle-Income status target by 2030. Currently, road transport accounts for at least 95% of cargo freight and passenger movement and is considered an important driver of economic growth,” said Madiro.
Madiro further applauded President Emmerson Mnangagwa for spearheading the country`s vision 2030 which aims to improve the transport infrastructure network.
“I would therefore like to applaud His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Dr E.D Mnangagwa for spearheading the country`s Vision 2030 within which context we are rolling out, the National Transport Policy which emphasizes on the urgent need for an integrated transport infrastructure network.
“The policies were put in place to support the country`s economic growth towards becoming an Upper Middle-Income Economy by 2030. Our objective during the Vision 2030 period is to achieve high quality and efficient public transport services, covering both the rural and urban areas,” said Madiro.
Meanwhile, Minister Madiro highlighted that this year witnessed the commencement of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2) which resulted in the improvement of road conditions.
“This year witnessed the commencement of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP) which has resulted in the improvement of road condition on major highways. In this respect, I am pleased to report that the upgrade and construction of the Beitbridge –Masvingo–Harare highway now stands at 80% to completion. Our main focus is now on the segments into and within urban settlements including Chivhu, and of course Mbudzi Roundabout where we are gathered today,” said Madiro.
Madiro further said that the Mbudzi roundabout, which was characterized by high traffic, would be closed so as to pave way for the construction of a new traffic interchange.
“The Mbudzi Roundabout, as we may all know has been characterized by high traffic volumes which resulted in congestion and schedule delays. Therefore, the roundabout will be closed on 18th of September 2022, to pave way for the construction of a new traffic inter-change,” said the Minister.
Minister Madiro said that the construction of the detours had been completed and most of the alternative roads were already tarred.
To date, a total of US$2.5 billion, which constitutes 34.5 percent of total capital development, has been set aside for various transport, water, public amenities, energy, irrigation, social services and other infrastructural projects.
Dam construction projects such as the Marovanyati Dam, Gwai-Shangani Dam, walling of Causeway Dam are also on schedule. The Hwange 7 and 8 Thermal Power Project, the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport Expansion, borehole rehabilitation and drilling, and the construction of the new Parliament Building are all Government efforts towards the realisation of Vision 2030.
