Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT is committed to improving the road network, with some roads in Manicaland that have been yearning for attention, earmarked for priority funding as announced by Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube during the 2025 national budget presentation.
Good roads play a crucial role in achieving Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy.
Good roads facilitate the efficient transportation of goods and services, boosting trade and economic growth; attract investors, stimulate economic activity, and create jobs.
They also enhance competitiveness as good roads enable businesses to compete effectively in regional and international markets.
Among the roads to be given priority are Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge, which will have 50km surfaced, Chipinge-Mt Selinda (35km), rehabilitation of the Chivhu-Nyazura Road for 40km, Nyanga-Ruwangwe re-graveling for 40km and the Chiriga-Chikore, which will be also re-gravelled for 40km.
These roads are of paramount importance in the province.
For example, a trafficable Murambinda-Birchenough Road will facilitate transportation of minerals from the district to the Sea Port of Beira, while the Nyazura-Chivhu Road, which links Manicaland and Midlands, parts of Mashonaland East and Matabeleland provinces has been in bad shape due to the high presence of haulage trucks.
The Nyanga-Ruwangwe and Chiriga-Chikore gravel roads will enable farmers to transport their produce to the market smoothly.
Their re-gravelling will attract more public and commercial transporters on the routes, leading to reduced transport costs.
By investing in good roads, Government can unlock the province’s economic potential, improve the quality of life for its citizens, and achieve its Vision 2030 goals.
Professor Ncube said enough resources have been channelled to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and Rural Infrastructure Development Authority (RIDA), to revamp and make the road network trafficable.
“Logistical services, including a modern railway system are critical in enhancing domestic, regional and international trade.
“This enables the participation by local firms in both domestic and international value chains, as well as determine the country’s competitiveness, economic growth and its capacity to generate sustainable jobs.
“With efficient logistical systems, local companies can rapidly penetrate new markets and capitalise on emerging global and regional opportunities especially from the AfCFTA.
“In this regard, ZiG5,4 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development to support targeted projects.
“This year, remarkable progress has been registered across the country in the rehabilitation and construction of road infrastructure which resulted in improvements in connectivity and improved traffic flows, notwithstanding the limited fiscal space on the Budget.
“Feeder roads are a critical component of government’s rural industrialisation and development. In this regard the capacitation of RIDA through a US$75 million loan facility will enable the aggressive rehabilitation and upgrading of the rural road infrastructure, including opening up of new arteries in the underserviced areas and other centres of economic activity.
“The equipment financed through the facility is being delivered,” said Professor Ncube.
National chairman of Stage Carriage Unified Transport Association, Mr Isau Mupfumi applauded Government for attending to roads in bad state.
He said this will enable the smooth movement of people and goods.
“The attention being given to the roads is a very welcome development as transport is key in facilitating economic activities in the province and country at large.
“We thank Government for prioritising roads that rarely got attention over the years.
“Our buses when plying on better roads will have considerable long life span when compared to bad roads.
“A good road attracts many operators, and this will create a health competition which will benefit the travelling public as transport fares will be reduced.
“On a bad road, few transporters who chose to operate there usually charge premium prices which are too steep to travellers,” said Mr Mupfumi.
