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    HomeNewsRoad rehabilitation brings enormous economic, social benefits

    Road rehabilitation brings enormous economic, social benefits

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    By Tawanda Mazarura

    Harare, (New Ziana) – Since Zimbabwe embarked on an ambitious road rehabilitation initiative, the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Program (ERRP) three years ago, the infrastructure investments are quickly beginning to bear fruit, creating job opportunities for the country’s construction and trade industries.

    In addition, the investments are benefiting businesses and strengthening social cohesion. The country’s once vibrant road network had fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years, hampering economic viability and isolating rural communities from participating in economic growth and rural productivity activities.

    However, the government’s innovative ERRP is now delivering tangible benefits on multiple fronts. For years, Zimbabwe’s road infrastructure had been plagued by shortages of funding for maintenance and rehabilitation. This resulted in delays in road construction projects. Major highways, urban roads and rural access feeder routes deteriorated.

    In February 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the country’s road network a state of disaster.

    The government budgeted 33.6 billion Zimbabwean Dollars for the second phase of the ERRP program, and through the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), has been partnering with international donors and financing institutions to secure funding for these road projects.

    ZINARA has already disbursed $2.3 billion Zimbabwean Dollars towards this exercise. “Our road network was in a deplorable state – it was hampering economic activity and making life difficult for our citizens,” said Felix Mhona, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development.

    “We knew we had to act quickly to address this crisis.” Since inception, the ERRP has made significant strides in transforming Zimbabwe’s road network.

    To date, over 50 000 kilometres (km) of roads have been rehabilitated, contributing to the country’s overall economic growth. Eighty-four thousand km of roads have been planned to be rehabilitated under the trail-blazing program. The road rehabilitation program is an unprecedented commitment of resources towards the country’s road infrastructure.

    The government recognized that functional roads are the backbone of economic development and social cohesion. Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trade Workers Union (ZCATWU) general secretary, Nicholas Mazarura, said: “The ERRP has been a game changer for our sector.

    We have seen remarkable increase in infrastructure development projects across the country, which has led to a surge in employment opportunities for our members.”

    ZCATWU has 7 200 members. According to Mazarura, the program has provided critical funding and support to revitalize the construction industry, which had been in limbo due to economic challenges faced by Zimbabwe in recent years.

    “The ERRP has injected much needed capital into the industry, allowing us to undertake projects that were previously on hold,” he explained. One of the key benefits of the program, Mazarura said, has been skills development and training.

    “The ERRP has invested heavily in up-skilling our workforce, ensuring that our members are equipped with the latest techniques and technologies. This has not only improved the quality of our work but also made our industry more competitive.”

    In the business arena, the ERRP is already delivering major results. For example, logistics companies report significant reductions in maintenance costs and transit times for their truck fleets.

    Calos Moyo, transport logistics head at Moyo Transport Services, said: “I can confidently say that the ERRP has been a game-changer for our transportation business. With the improved road network, our buses and trucks can now travel more efficiently and safely, reducing travel time and lowering maintenance costs.”

    Moyo also said: “We’ve seen a significant decrease in breakdowns and accidents, which has not only saved us money but also improved our reputation and customer satisfaction. Additionally, the enhanced road connectivity has enabled us to expand our routes and services, increasing our revenue and market share.” Improved connectivity is also unlocking new economic earning opportunities, especially for rural communities. Smallholder farmers in remote rural areas can now easily transport their farm produce to distant urban markets.

    “I used to lose a lot of my fresh produce because the distances to markets were long and arduous,” said smallholder farmer Peter Dhliwayo, of Musikavanhu Irrigation Scheme in Chipinge district in southern Manicaland.

    “Now I can get my goods to Mutare city or Harare quickly and reliably.” In addition to the economic benefits, the road rehabilitation program is also generating social impacts. Minister Mhona noted that upgraded access routes are improving school attendance and medical care access in rural areas.

    “We ‘re seeing more students able to get to class, and rural health centres becoming more reachable. This is a great achievement to in terms of quality of life improvements.”

    According to Statisa, before the initiation of the ERRP, Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate for 2021 was 9.54 per cent which then declined by 0.28 per cent to 9.26 per cent after a year.

    Statista is an online portal providing data on the global digital economy, industrial sectors, consumer markets, public opinion, media and macroeconomic developments. With each kilometre of road restored, job opportunities keep rising.

    Roads rehabilitation under the ERRP has created employment opportunities, with over 4. 000 skilled and semi-skilled jobs hired and the engagement of 267 local companies to supply materials, Statista says. Also, casual labor has been hired by contractors for specific tasks. “These jobs are a lifeline for many families who had been struggling to make ends meet,” said Mazarura.

    With the ERRP nearing the halfway mark of its three year timeline, Zimbabwe is already seeing huge benefits of the dual economic and social dividends of its historic road rehabilitation initiatives. As the program continues, the country is poised to further capitalize on the importance of functional transportation infrastructure.

    “We’re confident that this program will continue to bring sustainable growth and prosperity for our workers and the nation as a whole,” says Mazarura.

    New Ziana

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