Published: 3 hours ago

Nyanga South Member of Parliament Supa Mandiwanzira has called on the government to explore long-term financing solutions for road rehabilitation projects, suggesting the engagement of pension funds and international financial institutions to provide sustainable resources.

Speaking during Wednesday's parliamentary question-and-answer session, Mandiwanzira said the current "hand-to-mouth" approach to funding road maintenance and rehabilitation was insufficient, leading to uneven coverage across the country.

"I would like to ask my follow-up question to the Minister who alluded in his response that the challenge is that the financing of our road infrastructure is from hand to mouth, when in fact what we really need is long-term financing for our road infrastructure," he said. 

"We need to access funds either from local pension funds or international financial institutions to ensure that our roads are fixed pretty much at the same time, because the situation is bad in many places."

Mandiwanzira added that relying solely on government resources meant some areas were prioritised while others were left unattended, underscoring the need for a comprehensive, simultaneous approach to road rehabilitation.

Responding, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona acknowledged the challenges and said the government had been forced to rely on domestic resource mobilisation due to ongoing sanctions that have restricted access to external funding from institutions like the World Bank and IMF.

"I am happy Mandiwanzira raised the issue of pension funds, which we will also explore as we mobilise resources and ensure they partake in rebuilding our roads," Mhona said.

He highlighted the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs), loan facilities, and concession agreements as alternative models that have helped rehabilitate roads since the advent of the Second Republic.

"Mandiwanzira is very right because when we look at the funding modalities of infrastructure, that is where we talk of PPPs and concession agreements," Mhona said. "This model may not cover everything, but it has helped us rehabilitate our roads and will continue to do so."

Mhona also emphasised the need to reform legislation to clarify responsibilities between the Ministry of Transport and local authorities, particularly in urban areas.

"You will see us again coming back to this august House to deal with legislation to empower the Ministry and ensure that road rehabilitation responsibilities are clear," he said. "Currently, aspects like traffic signals and drainage fall under local authorities, creating confusion and gaps in service delivery."

The minister said harmonising legislative frameworks and funding models is critical to improving efficiency and ensuring that road rehabilitation projects are implemented comprehensively across Zimbabwe.
- online

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