By Staff Reporter
In a development that reinforces the Second Republic’s commitment to improving infrastructure in the country, Cabinet approved a Public-Private Partnership between the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and Zwane Enterprises (Pty) Ltd for upgrading and tolling the Old Gwanda Road.
The 120-kilometre road, stretching from Bulawayo City to Gwanda via Matobo, not only going to significantly improve the road but also reduce the distance between the two cities by 6 kilometres compared to the existing route, the Bulawayo to Gwanda via Esigodini, Mbalabala, and Colleen Bawn one
Zwane Enterprises will finance the US$110 million project and complete construction within 12 months under a Build-Operate-Transfer arrangement, recouping investment through tolling points.
Hamstrung by a debt overhang and sanctions leading to limited external lines of credit available, Zimbabwe in the Second Republic has pursued PPPs in the form of Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreements to spruce the country’s infrastructure most of which has been in a state of despair.
BOT agreements entered into by the country have largely been successful with the Zim-borders one at Beitbridge border post being the flagship that has brought modernity to the largest inland border post in Africa and the Garsu Pasaulis BOT for passport production being good examples.