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SENATE HANSARD 22 MAY 2025 Vol. 34 No. 51
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 22nd May, 2025
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE
VISITERS IN THE PRESIDENT OF SENATE’S GALLERY
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE PRESIDENT: I wish to recognise the presence in the President of the Senators' Gallery of the members of staff from the Ugandan Parliament Sergeant-at-Arms Department, led by Kiganda Immaculate who is a principal front office supervisor and they are here on a benchmarking visit. You are most welcome – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have here, as is now the norm, a long list of apologies from Ministers who have not made it to the chamber and it is as follows;
The Hon. C. G. D. N. General Retired Chiwenga, Vice President; Hon. Colonel Retired K. C. D. Mohadi, Vice President; Hon. Prof. M. Ncube, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion; Hon. M. Mavhunga, Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs; Hon. T. Machakaire, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training; Hon. B. Rwodzi, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry; Hon. O.C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, the Minister of Defence; Hon. Murwira, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Hon. E. Moyo, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Hon. M. N. Ndlovu, Minister of Industry and Commerce; Hon. Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; Hon. Jesaya, Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture; Hon. Kabikira, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works; Hon. Sanyatwe, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage; Hon. Marupi, the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services; Hon. Kambamura, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development; Hon. Dinha, the Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Hon. Modi, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce; Hon. Ncube, Deputy Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities; Hon. Haritatos, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; Hon. Marapira, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and Hon. Gata, the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education.
Some of these Ministers have never been here actually. In the chamber today we have a consistent Minister, ever-present Hon. Mhona, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development. Also Hon. Tawengwa, Minister of Provincial Affairs; Deputy Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, I think, Hon. Phuti and the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Hon. S. Sibanda. I hope other Ministers will join us soon.
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: I would like to make a short statement in line with the provisions of our Standing Orders. This statement is on youth unemployment in this country. Mr. President, youth unemployment remains one of Zimbabwe's most social economic, pressing social economic challenges. With over 60% of the population under the age of 35, the lack of sustainable job opportunities continues to fuel poverty, migration, social unrest and decadence. Despite possessing educational skills, many young people face limited access to capital, markets and mentorship. There is an urgent need for inclusive economic policies, investment in vocational training centres and the promotion of entrepreneurship to harness the potential of Zimbabwe youth and drive national development. According to this statement, I pray that the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training or responsible for youth issues comes to this Senate to just unpack for us the policies and programmes that they have got and what they contemplate in an effort to mitigate the effects of unemployment on our youths. I thank you.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
*HON. SEN. BIMHA: Thank you Mr. President for the
opportunity. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and
Infrastructural Development who regularly comes to this Senate. Your Ministry is doing well and we applaud you for that. Our roads throughout the country are being refurbished but these roads are now being damaged by heavy loads trucks, especially those who will be carrying heavy loads. Most of these trucks will be going to other countries. This resulted in those roads that we would have refurbished being destroyed in the shortest period of time. We expect that all those heavy loads which are being carried by lorries to be carried by goods trains. What is Government policy to make sure that the goods trains begin to move, especially on those long distances which go to other countries so that we can preserve our roads? Thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Mr. President. I also want to thank Hon. Senator Bimha.
It is true, that the Hon. Senator has highlighted the issue which is very pertinent. Although we have finished refurbishing our roads, you will find out that the roads are being damaged by these trucks which are carrying overloaded tonnage, which is not the expected tonnage in our roads. The railway lines which were used were not refurbished and no longer working properly. With the leadership of His Excellency, the President, we are now in the process of refurbishment of our railways. The Ministry is now working together with Mutapa Investment Fund, which is going to fund some of the projects.
We have also engaged other companies like CFM from Mozambique to refurbish our railways from Machipanda, which is 2,000km the distance from our railways. Only 10% needs refurbishment so that when the trains are moving, they are not involved in accidents. Our main objective is to make sure that the loads of trucks carrying goods move properly.
We are also encouraging those companies who are into mining to have their small railways from their respective companies to the main rail, which we call citing. So we are encouraging these companies to have these small railways so that they desist from using the roads when they are doing their mining activities, they must use these small rails to connect to the main rail so that we do not damage our roads.
*HON. SEN. CHAFUDZA: Thank you Mr. President. My supplementary question emanates from what the Minister is saying, it means that he has got plans to buy goods train which means that the ones we have are coming from other countries. In our country, we have areas where the mining of metal is taking place. What does the policy say concerning the industry that needs to be revived, so that we can also support other companies in the country? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Mr. President. I also want to thank the Senator for raising a supplementary question. Yes, we believe that through importing we will get some of the metals which we will need for refurbishment of our rails. In Bulawayo we have a company which is an expert in manufacturing these metals.
So even the query which was raised by Hon. Senator Zvidzai about the lack of employment to students who have finished school is going to be a thing of the past because we are going to revive our companies in Bulawayo. We are going to refurbish even the trains which we have right now in the country, including goods train and the passenger train. Thank you.
HON. SEN. MATIBIRI: I rise to ask a question related to the safety of our railway line. This is in relation to an accident that happened last month where a luxury goods train carrying tourists from South Africa, was involved in an accident with a goods train here. What safety mechanisms have you put so that the safety of our tourists is not compromised? Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: That is not a supplementary question. I will allow you to ask your question. It is a new question.
HON. SEN. ZINDI: My supplementary question is, we witnessed a consortium company that had come together in terms of delivery and refurbishment of locomotives for national railways. I think this was almost about three to five years ago. What happened to that?
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: It is also not a supplementary question. It is a question on its own. I will allow you to ask.
+HON. SEN. NYATHI: Thank you for the opportunity awarded to me, Mr. President Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement. How prepared is the Government with regard to wheat farming? Right now, most wheat farmers are planting their wheat from last year because they are afraid that it is going to be affected by rains. Thank you, Mr. President.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: The Minister and his two deputies are not here. I do not know whether any one of you Ministers would like to answer that question. I do not think they want to do so.
HON. SEN. NCUBE: Thank you, Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Hon. Minister, you have seen what happens during peak hours in Harare where most intersections are highly congested. My question is, what plans are you putting together to increase capacities in some of the major intersections in Harare?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you, Mr. President. Let me also thank the Hon. Senator for that very important question. Traditionally, the urban transportation system falls under the purview of local authorities. They are supposed to superintend over such planning purposes on how to decongest and manage whether it is street lighting or robots among others. His Excellency, the President, Dr. E. D Mnangagwa says that we cannot continue saying it is under the purview of local authorities. Let us work together. We have the whole Government approach and precisely this is what we are doing.
We are working with local authorities. We are also working with the Minister of Local Government to see how we can decongest. Indeed, it is a worrisome development, given the number of cars plying on a normal day, we are talking of plus or minus 1.5 million cars coming into our city. So, you can imagine the congestion that we witness. I am also glad to say we have a solution now. As of next week, I am sure I will invite this august House to this memorable event that we are going to be witnessing, where His Excellency is going to commission the Trabablas interchange that was being talked about.
Once again, to the people of Zimbabwe those doubting Thomases that were saying maybe it is just a roundabout but this is a magnificent infrastructure. We are talking of about 8 km stretch of the interchange and plus or minus 6 kilometres of outside roads within the precincts of this interchange. In addition, we then have the interchange again, which is a great separation at Rothmans. We have already started working on that. Those who are using that road today, we have opened another leg of the road. As we move towards ZBC we are going to be having another great separation, a mini-interchange.
We are going to rehabilitate the flyover at Simon Mazorodze. Again, in the third quarter we are starting the Mabvuku interchange to decongest Mabvuku. We also have another interchange at the former Jaggers. Those who know the roundabout, we are going to upgrade it. Exciting news again, we then move from the great city along Borrowdale Road, which is known as Legacy Way. We are going to be having six lanes of road expansion up to Borrowdale Police. Then from Borrowdale Police, we are going to be having four lanes up to Glen Forest turnoff, as we move to Domboshawa. In between, Legacy Way and Churchill, we will be having a mini-interchange again. At Harare Drive and Legacys Way, we are going to be having a mini-interchange as well. The idea of mini-interchange is to decongest so that other cars will be flying on top, which are the spaghetti roads that we have been hearing.
So, precisely this is what we are doing under the Second Republic, so that we manage our roads. We also decongest. Above all, we will be introducing the trains to actually collaborate to what Hon. Senator Bimha was saying that instead of using our cars, we use the trains. Those are mini trains within the great city, you see a complete overhaul of our cities, not only in Harare but as we also go to our metropolitan province. Thank you so much.
HON. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. President Sir. Minister, why not we construct wider lanes by the roadside that will allow the motorcycles or cyclists to cycle on their own, instead of maneuvering inside the roads?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you, Mr. President Sir. I want to thank Hon. Senator Sibanda for that very important question. If you look at the way our roads were designed, maybe it was the colonial mind-set. They did not anticipate that we were going to be having an upper-middle-economy status as Zimbabweans. They thought maybe there was going to be a limited number of cars on the roads.
As we then move forward, during our planning phase in the Ministry, we are planning each road with a cycle track and walkways so that people will also promote wellness, where you can also train and jog along our roads, not on the road, but on the walkways and also cycle track - you witness this as you come to this august House from the city. If you are coming from the city using Second Street Extension, you will see that we have already started having that walkway and cycle track.
So, this is the model of the roads that we are designing, to make sure that we also accommodate cyclists and those who are walking as well. Thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. KABONDO: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. I would like to say thank you for coming and lending us your ears. Part of my question has already been covered by the Senator Bimha. What I am going to do now is just to let the Hon. Minister know the situation on Victoria Falls Road.
I want to let him know how long it took me to do 347 kilometres from Cross Dete to Bulawayo on Sunday. It took me six hours – that is how bad the road is. That means I was doing 57 kilometres per hour. The road is really bad and we are no longer using the road because where there was a road, there are so many potholes. So, we have to manoeuvre in the bush to go and join what once was a road up front. I am just hoping you are going to do something for us. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: The Hon. Minister has announced that they are doing something on that road. I think there is a week where everybody talked about that road led by Hon. Senator Mupfumira. Perhaps the Hon. Minister will update the august House on the progress which has been made so far.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Mr. President. Let me also thank Hon. Senator Kabondo for that very important question. With your indulgence Mr. President Sir, I was also mandated to bring a Ministerial Statement to this august House. I am ready to deliver that. In the statement, it will also cover the issues of this topical road, the Victoria Falls Road. Thank you Mr. President.
+HON. L. SIBANDA: Thank you President of the Senate. My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development or the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. It is with regard to those working in the Ministry of Education. Workers from the Ministry of Education from different places are coming here because this is where their headquarters is and each time they are here, they do not have accommodation and it ends up forcing them to pay for accommodation from their pockets and this is difficult because they have to use their money, which is supposed to be used by their families and they end up using it here because they will be working from this site. So, what is Government saying about these workers?
Government needs to find them accommodation. Where are they supposed to get this fund? Right now, they are getting less money and it is not enough for them to look for accommodation and then have another one catering for their families. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I was talking to the Minister here. Your question is directed to who?
+HON. SEN. L. SIBANDA: To the Hon. Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.
+THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. S. SIBANDA): Thank you very much Mr. President. I did not get the question clear in terms of the link between the Minister of Higher Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development and what she was saying. If she may repeat and specifically ask it straight towards the Minister of Higher Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. Thank you.
+HON. SEN. L. SIBANDA: Thank you Hon. President of Senate. Hon. Minister, my question is with regards to the one working for the Minister of Education because I am talking of people who are working for the Ministry of Education at the headquarters here in Harare. Thank you.
HON. S. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. President and thank you to Senator Sibanda for the question. This question is not related to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development because it talks about the Ministry of Education. I do not understand which ministry exactly. It is saying for those who come to Harare for work, we need to provide them with accommodation. This one is supposed to be addressed by Public Service, who is the employer. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Sibanda, can you put your question in writing so that nobody will dodge so that they are obliged to answer it?
+ HON. SEN. SIBANDA: Thank you President of the Senate.
It is good that you realised that so much was not addressed appropriately.
HON. SEN. MATIBIRI: Thank you Mr. President, my question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development and thanking him also for his religious attendance to this Senate.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Go near the mic so that you can be heard.
HON. SEN. MATIBIRI: Thank you Mr. President. Last month, a luxury train carrying tourists from South Africa was involved in an accident in Bulawayo. Given the significance of tourism to the economic revival of our country and in particular their safety, what mechanisms have you put in place so that such an incident does not happen again Honourable Minister? Thank you Mr. President.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Mr. President. Let me also thank Hon. Senator Matibiri for that very important question, which is actually riding on a sad development where there was a derailment of a rover's train, which plies the South Africa railway line straight into Zimbabwe. Apparently, this rover's train was on a section which belongs to a private player, which is Bulawayo Beitbridge Road (BBR) railway line, sorry. So, the private player gave a statement to that effect since it was not a Government railway line on that particular stretch.
However as a country, we will also have to take cognisance of the fact that we superintend over safety matters and I am sure they gave a statement to that effect. Apparently, those who were injured were then evacuated, admitted and treated with speed. I am sure that going forward, in terms of communication, which is something that was to do more with human error and as we train our drivers whenever they embark on such an important journey, they must uphold the issues of communication, which was lacking in that particular incident. Going forward as a country, that is why we are saying,as we resuscitate our railway line, we improve on our digitalisation element. It also says that as much as we try to revamp our infrastructure, given the Dabuka railway line, cables were stolen and that was 313km of copper wire stolen. It leaves us wondering what type of Ubuntu, we are displaying as much as we rehabilitate our infrastructure, we find those who are also vandalising our infrastructure.
So, in terms of safety pertaining to railway lines, the only way out is the signals and this is what we are working with as we are rehabilitating, we are also improving the signals. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ZINDI: Mr. President, my question earlier on directed to the Hon, Minister of Transport is on the issue to do with the purchase or refurbishment of locomotives for National Railways of Zimbabwe. As I said earlier on that we witnessed or saw some official kind of launch of a consortium that was supposed to buy the locomotives for NRZ about four or five years ago, what transpired?
HON. MHONA: Let me thank Hon. Senator Zindi for that very important question. I am sure the matter was before the courts some time ago and would have been deemed to be prejudice and sub-judice at the end of the day whenever we give information without the consent of the parties. Now, I am glad to say the matter was then settled amicably between the parties where in 2017 we witnessed that joint venture. Apparently, it was then cancelled in 2019 through a company known as DIDG, which is a Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group. A South African company was also entering into a marriage of convenience because there was not much that was shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of that contract. Apparently, delivery was not met and the contract was cancelled where locomotives were supposed to be coming from South Africa into Zimbabwe, which is rolling stock, locomotives and wagons but this did not materialise. So, there is not much to talk about that contract. We are now looking at other alternatives to ensure we have rolling stock.
*HON. SEN. MUNZVERENGWI: Thank you Minister of Transport for coming religiously to this august House. Firstly, I want to thank His Excellency, Dr. E. D Mnangagwa for his re-engagement and engagement programme. Most companies are now in the country but most of these companies carry heavy loads on our roads, be it rural or urban roads. Is it therefore not proper to review the monies being paid by these companies when they are carrying heavy loads? Even at our border posts, can we not have weighbridges so that if trucks are over-loaded, they have to pay for the extra load?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): I also want to thank Hon. Senator Munzverengwi for asking such a pertinent question. It is true that after the refurbishment of the roads, we see immediate destruction because of the heavy loads being carried by trucks on these roads. Most people come to our Ministry begging after being given penalties by the vehicle inspection department. So, we are pleading with you not to come to our offices to plead with us after being penalized for overloading. Those in the mining sector were also given the same advice and His Excellency alluded to the vision of ensuring that the mining companies work together with the Government to refurbish roads in the areas of their operations to the main road. They should also construct small railways from their place of operations which will link them to the main railways. We will continue encouraging them to refurbish roads and not to carry overloads but stick to the required weights. Some companies who are in mining are coming to the Ministry to see how they can work together with the Ministry to ensure they refurbish the roads from their respective working areas to the main roads. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ZINDI: My supplementary question is on the issue to do with weighbridges that facilitate gauging the weight of truck loads. For example, Forbes Border Post has got two weighbridges that have been under construction for the past fifteen years. Why can they not be completed so as to be able to raise revenue and also reduce the damage to our roads? The truck drivers actually acknowledge that Zimbabwe does not have weighbridges, in particular Forbes Border post. So, they take advantage of that. That is my question. I thank you.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Senator Zindi for that very important question. She has highlighted the Forbes Border post. I will apprise the House of the good news of the soon-coming rehabilitation of the entire border post to mirror what we have at Beitbridge Border Post. This will address some of those short comings but we have weighbridges though they might not be functional. That is why you heard me saying in terms of excess loads where people are being penalised by VID because they will be using weighbridges. We will continue monitoring. Then the culture of getting tenders and not performing is no longer there in the Second Republic. She also talked about one weighbridge that was being constructed for some time, which is something that we do not condone as a Ministry. So, to those who get tenders, they must also move and execute with speed? I am happy that as we are now rehabilitating the entire border post, we have factored in the issues of weighbridges so that we manage trucks plying our Forbes- Machipanda route into the country. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MANYENGAVANA: My supplementary question to the Ministry of Transport is on the weighbridge for Forbes Border Post. My understanding Hon. Minister is that the weighbridges were bought 10 years ago. They are only seated in Harare. As a Ministry, what do you intend to do to transfer the weighbridges which are still in Harare according to the staff at border post to transfer them and put them in place so that as a Ministry, you get increased revenue collection? Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Senator Manyengavana, that is a specific question. Unless the Minister wants to answer it, you actually can put it in writing. Yes, put it in writing so that we can go and look into that issue.
The Minister nods in agreement for the contribution to be put in writing.
HON. SEN. TSHABANGU: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of National Housing, Hon. Soda. What initiatives is the Ministry of National Housing undertaking to provide affordable housing solutions for middle and lower-income families considering the huge estimated backlog of about 2 million units with an annual demand of 40 000 to 50 000 units? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AMENITIES (HON. SODA): Thank you Mr. President. Allow me to also thank the Hon. Senator for that very important question. I can confirm Mr. President that in 2021 when we promulgated our current policy, we ascertained that we had a deficit in terms of housing units that were required. The figure that he has just talked about is true that we had ascertained a deficit of around 2 million housing units. Since then, a lot of effort has been made with regards to reducing that deficit. You would be aware, Mr. President our NDS1 target initially was 220 000 housing units that we needed to do between 2021 and 2025. However, when we got to the midterm review, we had surpassed that target and a new target was assigned to the Ministry which we are currently working on.
We envisage that when we get to the end of this year, we will have done about one million housing units and that comprises of fully completed houses and fully serviced stands. The question specifically, Mr. President, has to do with affordability. The initiatives that we are putting in place as the Ministry to ensure that low-income earners are also afforded accommodation which is a constitutional right, again, enshrined in our Constitution. As a Ministry, we are servicing some stands in various parts of the country. The idea is to avail those stands that would have been serviced using Government funds at a price or at a cost that will enable many people to afford. That is not the only way by which we are ensuring affordability.
With the current policy, we are saying for all new housing developers, the site plan must indicate that 40% of the land would be used to construct high-rise buildings that is our flats. What we noticed is that the major cost component of housing developments is arising as a result of the cost of the land itself where the houses are being constructed. So, with our densification strategy or the provision that is now in our policy to build houses going vertical, we are saying we have to take advantage of the same piece of land where ordinarily one housing unit would be constructed. We can do even up to 12 units or more by taking advantage of the price of that small piece of land. That is one way by which as Government we are encouraging the land be preserved. Apart from preserving, the cost of the housing units is contained through densification.
It is now a policy requirement that for every new housing development scheme, 40% of the land must be for the construction of flats. We think by that policy, we should be able to ensure that the housing units that are developed will be affordable. Not only that, Mr. President, I am sure this House sometime last year in September, you also approved the shareholding for Zimbabwe which is a participant in the Shelter Afrique arrangement where Zimbabwe used to have 1.5% shareholding. It has now grown to 5%. The shareholding allows entities or private companies that are in Zimbabwe to access concessionary funding. Already, we have some banks that have accessed that concessionary funding. What we are doing as a Ministry is to ensure that as they are doing their housing developments, they are taking into cognisance the fact that the funding would have been obtained on concessionary terms and that must also be extended to our citizens as they construct houses ultimately or as they service some stands. There are so many ways by which we can ensure that the affordability aspect that we pursue as a Ministry is being observed. I thank you Mr. President.
+HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you Mr. President. The question by Hon. Senator Sibanda was about civil servants who travel from where they stay, from their home provinces, for example, from Bulawayo to Harare. As the Minister of National Housing, what are you doing to ensure that these people get decent and affordable accommodation since they get meagre salaries?
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: That question is on conditions of service and should be directed to the Minister of Public Service.
HON. SEN. RICHARD NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. From Plumtree to Maitengwe Border Post, the road is not user-friendly. Botswana has tarred the road up to the border but ours is bad. We are losing a lot of revenue; people have to turn back to using the Plumtree Border Post. It is very short on the Maitengwe Border Post to the rural areas. I want to know whether the Minister has any plans to tar that road or to grade it at least so that it is passable.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDNET OF SENATE: It is a specific question. I do not know whether the Minister wants to answer this question – yes, it is included in his statement.
HON. SEN. FANUEL: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity. I would like to thank all the Ministries who helped Chininga when there were floods. My question is, everything was done by the Government, well-wishers and churches and the bridge was built. There was one man who passed on. Now, the houses are built and when are the beneficiaries going to be handed over those houses? They are worried. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AMENITIES (HON. SODA): Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Houses were constructed and after construction, we handed over the houses to the Ministry of Local Government, which is responsible and deals with civil protection matters. So, the beneficiaries were identified by the Ministry of Local Government. When they are through and when they are ready, they will arrange for us to go together to do the handover. I think any time that will be arranged. It is so sad to hear that some of the beneficiaries have passed on before they were afforded a stay in their newly constructed houses. It is something that we can try to expedite given the concerns that have been raised. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education. What plans are in place or are contemplated to improve the global recognition and competitiveness of our university degrees?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. S. SIBANDA): Thank you very much Mr. President. I would like to thank Hon. Senator Zvidzai for this question. To respond to that question, we are not aware of situations where our university qualifications have been deemed to be not competitive. As a country, we have received issues around brain drain. Brain drain to me is about leakages of the capital in terms of human capital that we would have produced from the universities. If there is a movement of something from a certain region to another, it means it is coming from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration. Meaning to say as long as our university graduates are leaving our country and hence leading to the complaints of brain drain, it means we are producing good quality.
So, the issue of our universities not producing good quality, we have not come across that. We have not even read about it anywhere. There is no research even to that effect. So, I submit.
Hon. Sen. Mutsvangwa having raised his hand to ask a question.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Mutsvangwa, I am seeing you but I work on a list. You should have stood earlier.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order, Number 67.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Zindi, I know you wanted to move for an extension but we have a Ministerial Statement coming, the Minister has other commitments. In terms of Standing Order Number, 67 we move to Questions with Notice. Unfortunately, we do not have the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to answer three questions. I am directing the Clerk to write to the Minister of Local Government, these questions have been on the Order Paper, for too long a time. So, questions 1 to 3 are deferred. Now, the Hon. Minister of Transport would like to deliver a Ministerial Statement.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
UPDATE ON THE VARIOUS ROAD PROJECTS
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Mr. President, I rise today to update this august House on the various road projects that are underway in Zimbabwe as requested by Hon. Sen. Charumbira in this House. It is my pleasure to inform you that our Ministry is committed to improving the road network in our country and we are making significant progress in that regard, with the guidance of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Hon. Dr. Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
Our first recognition as a Ministry is that under his leadership, all transformative measures in infrastructural development required to underpin the drive towards the attainment of our nation’s Vision 2030, derived from the target prescribed by the National Development Strategy 1, to increase the number of kilometres of road networks to meet Southern Africa, Transport and Commission Standard from 5% to 10% by 2025. Also, to increase the number of kilometres of road network in good condition from 14 702 km to 24 500 km by 2025. We have hinted before this august House to prioritise and accelerate the completion of ongoing road projects.
Mr. President, there is a close nexus, between a good road network and economic development. In that regard, we have unlocked value from the optimal use of locally available resources, including local contractors in the upgradation, rehabilitation and maintenance as well as construction of road infrastructure. I also wish to highlight that year-in-year-out, this very august House allocates a resource envelope that is fixed, known and quantifiable. As the Ministry, we bid for desired amounts for us to touch every nook and corner of the country in terms of road rehabilitation. We are, however, limited by the pressure of the multifaceted needs of other sectors which compete for the same cake from the national fiscal cake.
We are grateful to our Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development, which works hand in glove with the Ministry to fight for a certain level of allocation in order to satisfy the road infrastructural needs of our people. However, both the Ministry and the relevant Portfolio Committee and I am sure the Thematic Committee, have a limit given the competition for resources exerted on the fiscal. In any event, it is this august House that has a final say on the envelope we get. Other than our own initiatives at the Ministry to tap into the public-private partnerships and concessionary loans for infrastructure, we can only deliver within the framework of what has been allocated by Parliament.
For illustration's sake, if Parliament allocates USD1 million for, say, 10 km of road, it is only fair that we are held accountable for the optimal use of such envelope on the targeted stretch of roads. I am sure going forward, Hon. Senators, we must be debating based on what is appearing in our blue book. I am sure through the initiatives of the Ministry, we will also continue to make sure that we have got adequate funding for other roads. Madam President, allow me to address one of the much-talked-about roads these days, the Bulawayo - Victoria Falls Road. This is a major regional trunk road that provides access to one of the Seven Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the majestic Mosio-a-Tunya Victoria Falls.
It links countries north of Zimbabwe, namely Zambia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the ports of South Africa. Indeed, the road condition has deteriorated over the past few years as the road has exceeded its design life and due to increased loading, as a result of the high investment required to rehabilitate and upgrade the road to international standards, Bitumen World was contracted in 2023 to attend to critical sections about 60 kilometres under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 and portal patching of the rest of the road from Bay Bridge to Victoria Falls.
To ensure sustainable navigable roads in the foreseeable future of seven years, the Ministry is in the process of procuring the services of other contractors to work on the Bulawayo Victoria Falls section of the road. Still within the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, we hope that these emergency works by the additional contractors will be completed in 10 months. For the long term, the Ministry anticipates robust road works from Beitbridge to Victoria Falls in the fashion of Beitbridge - Harare with a 20-year design life. In that vein, in October 2024, the Ministry got Cabinet approval for a partnership between the Ministry and Bitumen World to finance, upgrade and maintain the Beitbridge – Bulawayo - Victoria Falls Road through a triple fee arrangement.
To date, the partnership is working on the feasibility studies for the road with the view that Bitumen World commences works on the Beitbridge - Bulawayo stretch. Madam President, allow me to also highlight the projects we are focusing. The Ministry is targeting the following projects. For the Harare – Masvingo - Beitbridge, the North-South Corridor project connecting South Africa through Beitbridge to the capital city, which is Harare, the total open section to date is 492.9 km, whilst 87.1 km is remaining. The project works have resumed and are due to be completed by 31 December 2025.
Hon. Senators of this august House, from Matebeleland South and Masvingo Province, we attest to the fact that contractors are on site working on the remaining stretches. We then come to an important feature of the North - South Corridor along Simon Mazorodze, the Trabablas Interchange – Masvingo - Glenora Loop, Harare Drive -Missing Link and Amalinda Road and Bridge were completed and opened to the traffic last year 2024. I am pleased to inform the nation that His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade Dr E. D. Mnangagwa, on the 30th May 2025, will commission this significant project. All Hon. Senators of this august House are welcome without replaying our past glory with regards to the Greater Harare Roads Rehabilitation Programme which caused swift rehabilitation of the old Mazowe Road, the Boulevard Road and many more roads leading to this iconic new Parliament. Moving on, we have various provincial projects underway, including in Mashonaland West, where we have Golden Valley-Sanyathi Road and the completion of the Norton Town Plaza. In Mashonaland East, we have Domboshava Road, Kadoma Street-Oswald, Murehwa-Madecheche, Arturas Road, Mushandirapamwe Hwedza Road and Akiwa-Manyika Roads under construction. In Mashonaland Central, where we have St. Albert's, Ruya - Mukumbura and Ndodahondo and in Masvingo we have Mutare-Masvingo Road, Reseal, Chivu-Gutu Rehabilitation and Chilonga Causeway Repair Works.
In Matebeleland North, we have Bulawayo Nkayi, the 24-kilometre rehabilitation. In Matebeleland South, we have Bulawayo - Kezi Road Rehabilitation and Plumtree – Mpoengs regravelling. In Manicaland, Nat - Farm Access Road, Chipinge-Mt. Selinda Bechnough - Murambinda Road, Nyanga-Ruwange Road. In Midlands, where we have Kwekwe-Gokwe-Siabuwa - Asphalt Overlay, Gokwe - Choda Road Re-Gravelling and Zimbabwe Military Academy Rehabilitation. In the Harare Metropolitan, we have Tongogara Asphalt Reconstruction, Alps, with about 9.9 kilometres left, Fifth Street, St. Ringham and Zimbabwe House Asphalt Overlay, Drummond, Lytton and Kambuzuma, to mention but a few.
I have got an annexure, Hon. Members might be worried. This is very detailed. Here, I am just paraphrasing. Madam President, Harare-Chirundu Road Project, which actually is ongoing in terms of just maintaining the road, is a continuation of the North-South Corridor, connecting the capital city Harare to Zambia through the Chirundu Boarder. The scope includes the upgrading, widening, rehabilitation and dualisation of certain sections of the road. The main works are targeted to commence first quarter of 2026 and have a construction period of 18 months due to be completed in mid-2027. Harare-Nyamapanda and Nyamapanda Border Post, the road is part of the North-South Corridor connecting Zimbabwe to East Africa through Nyamapanda Border Post located in Mashonaland East.
The Government has engaged a partner that shall finance, upgrade and maintain the project for a period of 25 years. Chirundu Border Post and the Government entered a Triple P for the Chirundu Border Post, located along the North-South Corridor, to upgrade and modernise it. The border located in Mashonaland West already operates a one-stop border post. Therefore, the modernisation shall add value to the efficiency in the movement of goods and people. Forbes Border Post, a key border post located along the Beria Corridor in Manicaland Province is to be modernised, upgraded and expanded through a Triple P signed on 28 January 2025. The project works are set to commence by end of the year and be completed by end of 2027. J.M. Nkomo Road, which is the RIGM International Road, coming from our main airport.
This project will include the airport road link and the upgrading of the existing roads. The missing link is used to move towards Braeside, that missing section for the betterment of Hon. Senators. That is the one I am talking about from Robert Mugabe International Airport. The scope also includes a one-kilometre-long viaduct. Viaduct means the road will be going up in the air for a kilometre and then it will disengage at E. D. Mnangagwa intersection, where it will then gravitate towards Glen Norah. This project shall commence in the last quarter of 2025 and be completed by December 2026.
Christmas Pass Bypass, the 31.2 kilometre project in Manicaland Province will improve road infrastructure development, road safety and road asset management. Works are set to commence by the end of the third quarter of 2025 and shall be completed by end of 2026. North-South Corridor Link Associated Roads.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA) (SPKING)…remaining sections of north-south corridor, an extension of Old Mazowe, the road behind us, to Mazowe Hotel. Chiremba Road, Delport Road, 11th Avenue and Manyame Air Base to Manyame Hospital Road.
Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road Project: 750-kilometre project will improve the road network and reduce travel time between Beitbridge and Victoria Falls.
Kwekwe-Nkayi Lupane Road and Bulawayo-Nkayi Road: These projects connect Midlands, Matabeleland and North Province, reducing the distance between Harare and Victoria Falls by 200 km. Construction shall start in the third quarter of 2025 and be completed in 2030.
Harare-Kanyemba Road and Kanyemba Border Post: 357 km road project commenced in February 2024 with a construction period of five years, including the border post. This project shall be completed in 2029.
Construction of four interchanges and upgrading of the Liberation Legacy Way. The project seeks to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow in Harare. The construction of four interchange projects and upgrading of the Liberation Legacy Way which is 17 km and the rehabilitation of city-wide roads totalling 70 km in the Harare project will be implemented in two phases over two years, commencing this year.
In conclusion, Madam President and Hon. Members of Parliament, my Ministry is committed to improving the road network in Zimbabwe. We are making significant progress on various projects and we are confident that these projects will contribute to the economic growth and development of our country.
I invite those who wish to have an in-depth understanding of our plans which is in line with the budget of this august House approved for the Ministry to access a detailed schedule of roads that I have outlined in the schedule. I will just go through, pick a province, one or two, so that I demonstrate what I have been highlighting in this august House.
In Manicaland we have got Natpharm access, we have got Machongwe loop, we have got Marondera-Chiduku, Headlands-Mayo, Makoni-Nyabadza, Mutare, Masvingo Road Traffic, Cashel Valley, Cashel-Chimanimani 30 km, Chikukwa Shelvet, I will highlight the one that I promise to Hon. Senator Ndlovu, maybe under Matabeleland South, so that it might be a testament that I will address one of the roads that he mentioned. We have got Maphisa-Gwanda. Under Matabeleland South we have got Bulawayo-Kezi, which is 101 km, we have got Plumtree-Maitengwe Border Post, 98 km of road construction, we have Plumtree-Ndolwane Road, construction of 70 km, we have got Sanyetse- Manama Road, we have got Mpoengs-Maphisa Road, we have got Lutumba-Chikwalakwala, we have got Plumtree Mpoengs-Guyu-Manama Road, just to mention a few.
Madam President, this is what is before us and if it pleases you and this august House, we will in future quickly share the plan of the roads we plan to work vis-à-vis the national envelope allocated to us in the particular year so that when enquiries are made, they will be within the budgetary framework approved by Hon. Members. I so submit, Madam President.
HON. SEN. TSHABANGU: Hon. Minister, I know it was not really captured in detail in your submission which is quite substantive, I must admit. My question is directed to the Mbudzi Interchange. The cost of that interchange, the figures that we have, it was quoted around US$88 million. In comparison to South Africa, if you go to Mount Edgecombe which is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, it costs about US$77 million which is about R101.14 million.
Let us look at the difference, the proportion, what makes our road construction so expensive in the region, yet we use the same material. South African roads are more advanced in terms of the durability and size but we still have these imbalances in our road construction. Maybe it did not come out clearly but you can, from the surface, try to give us clarification.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Madam President. Let me also thank Hon. Sen. Tshabangu. Why I liked his question is it will then alley fears to the citizenry. At times when you hear about costs the good thing about this project, Madam President, is I am excited as the Minister and I was just praying that if we would go to the Bible, there was a prophet known by the name Simeon. He said when I see Jesus then I will be comfortable to die. To me, this kind of project I could equate it to one of the projects which was much talked about in the Ministry and it is so huge.
The fact that people were just posing whatever narratives within the social media, others were saying that it is not an interchange, it is a roundabout, of which they are entitled, as enshrined in our Constitution, to the freedom of expression but at times it is also good to portray and relay a good message and also be good ambassadors. Where we are talking of an interchange, it competes favourably within the region like what Honourable Senator Tshabangu was saying. I have tasked my team to investigate to say we are on what number precisely in the region. I would find rarely a magnitude of that interchange where we are talking about 14 km.
The good thing about the point raised by Hon. Sen. Tshabangu, when you look at Zimbabwe, we are quite a unique nation. Firstly, we are under illegal sanctions and whatever we tap into is not measured favourably in terms of cost implication. If you look, I can cite a good example of a bag of cement, what you get in here and vis-a-vis other countries might be different. So, the cost implication is different and if you look at this interchange, where it is situated, there were dwellings, houses, quite a number of those, over 50 properties that had title deeds that were supposed to be compensated adequately. Besides that, we had diversion routes. All the roads that we are using now were part of this interchange. So, when one is talking about cost implication, one might be looking at a particular interchange but there are also associated costs related to that infrastructure. Where we are talking of diversion routes, we are talking of compensation. Those are also building up to the cost.
So, I am sure at one time I had an opportune time to take the fourth Estate around whilst we were starting to construct. At times we would go 11 metres deep constructing but the good thing is, when you are in this august House, you do not know the civil works that were involved. So, people will be commenting but it is a mammoth task, Madam President, that we were faced with as a Ministry and I am happy that we have delivered and finally people will be celebrating. Yes it was, when is it going to be completed? now it has shifted to the cost. So, you will never satisfy a human being and even if we commission, you will still get other comments but to the people of Zimbabwe, we must be grateful that under very difficult circumstances we came up with such a magnificent infrastructure. You will see it is a marvel when you go through that interchange. I am sure it will also be an issue to do with the cost of funding again because this is a loan facility, remember. It also lessens the burden from Treasury, where we start paying over a period of years. However, the goodness of a facility is it will not compete with the fiscus where we are supposed to go, there is no way we are going to have the 88 million and put it into an infrastructure. Still, people are going to complain, to say we are angry and we are building an interchange. So, if you ever get comments about us.
It is my humble plea again to the people of Zimbabwe today, that let us start appreciating what we are doing as a nation. Thank you.
HON. SEN. CHAPFUDZA: Thank you Minister for giving us the Ministerial Statement. Where I wanted to have some clarity, we have a road that comes from Rutenga going to Sango. Are you also planning to make it a tarred road? We are hearing that the distance from Zimbabwe going to Durban is shorter going through Mozambique than using the Beitbridge Boarder Post, so that maybe there will be some business along that side. Thank you.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Madam President, let me also thank Hon. Senator for that important question. Indeed, it is called Gweru-Chikwalakwala Boli-Sango Road. We are also engaging, working on a PPP arrangement so that we rehabilitate the entire road and also the Sango Border Posts. So, this is on our radar in the Ministry and like what you have precisely said, it will shorten the distance and also promote the corridors that I have been talking about so that we use the Boli-Sango border posts. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you for the recognition and I would really like to thank the Minister for coming to this House and giving us a Ministerial Statement. We are going to hold you accountable Minister. I think you really want to be held accountable. It will be easier for us because half the time when we get answers from ministers, it is vague and no dates are given. You have come here, you have committed, we are truly grateful.
Hon. Minister, my point of clarity will be, in as much as you are building these roads, I realise you have a 10-kilometre stretch in Matobo, you have another in Matabeleland North and so forth. I realise those are main roads, roads inside the game parks which are dilapidated and would really need your intervention because Zimbabwe not only depends on farming, or mining, we also depend on tourism. It would be truly grateful Minister, if something were to happen and if you clarify what you are doing as a Ministry, what you intend to do with those roads. I thank you.
HON. SEN. FANUEL: Thank you Madam President. I also want to just comment that the President said ‘no one must be left behind’. I have always been listening, Binga is being left behind. I was kindly asking for the Minister also, wherever he is going to start, - to also start from Zambezi-Binga. By 2030, we will no longer be coming here. The road is too bad.
*HON. SEN. BVUMO: Thank you Madam President for the opportunity. There is a road that I want to make an inquiry about, which has been the talk of the town since 1980. A lot of theories have been given and the map shows that it has been constructed but the truth is that it has not yet been constructed. The Beatrice-Skyline Road that goes to Mhondoro -Mubaira. What is the correct position on the state of the road? It appears as a tarred road but it is a dust road. I also want to thank you for the good work that you are doing which is much appreciated.
+HON. SEN. CHIEF NGUNGUMBANE: Thank you Madam President. The Hon. Minister spoke about the road that leaves Rutenga to Chikwalakwala. I want to ask the Hon. Minister the position of the road that leads Rutenga to Buchwa. Kindly explain. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. MOYO: Thank you Madam President. You have been working very hard with all our roads and we understand that as we are speaking, we are also listening, especially the Maitengwe Road. It is 98 Km but last time you spoke about it. It is now on this list and you said you were going to look into this road? Is it 2029? The truth of the matter is most of these roads are in a bad state. Where do you find these engineers and these people that you give tenders and are you giving people who make sure that there is quality assurance in the service delivered? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Madam President Ma'am and let me thank the Hon. Senator for the valuable questions that they have posed. Hon. Senator Mlotshwa talked about roads in the game park. The goodness of the Second Republic Madam President Ma'am is the whole of Government approach where you say even if it is not under the purview of the Ministry, we are collaborating so that we work closely. The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry could be also another DC that we work closely with. So, I have heeded to Hon. Senator's call that we also need to interrogate and make sure that roads within our game parks are trafficable and we will do that precisely Madam President Ma'am.
Again, Hon. Senator Fano, Binga Road in the detailed report we are going to be constructing the Binga Road from Karoi close to 300 kilometres into Binga then from Binga to Cross Dete. So, that those who are going to Vic Falls they do not need to come through to Harare. From Chirundu they will turn off and use Binga Road which is also very important road to decongest.
However, we are working with the RDC so that we manage and make sure that roads are there in Binga. Also, of great importance to others, they do not even know that we have wonderful beaches in the Zambezi River closer to Binga where we also need to promote in terms of tourism. So, we work closely with Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry to make sure that those roads are trafficable.
So, you see us Hon. Senator Fanuel making sure that we descend even to the inner roads and not precisely the trunk roads that I am talking about. Hon. Senator Bvumo, you talked about the very important emotional roads. Not only you, even Hon. Senator Mutsvangwa if he is here. The Beatrice Skyline Mondoro Mubaira Road can start from Marirangwe straight into Mubaira. It is at the centre of my heart. We happen to have been at the same school with my older man Hon. Senator Mutsvangwa which is along this road. So, I am supposed to pay back again to this very important school.
It is one of the roads that is also very emotional, that we need to rehabilitate. It has been talked about and you find that it is not only the road leading to Mubaira. You find that there are three roads. One soon after Manyame River which goes to Mubaira and one at 52 kilometres. Before that soon after the Hunyani River, there is also one that goes through Marirangwe. Soon after the Beatrice there is also another which leads to Mubaira. Those are three emotional roads we are talking about leading into Mhondoro. I am very happy that looking at the 52 kilometre which goes to St Michaels then eventually to Mubaira. It is also one of the topical roads and where we are starting we have engaged the Mashonaland West Provincial Road Engineer and the Mashonaland East so that we start attending to this to this road. In terms of timeframe this is what we are earmarking in this third quarter of this year so that we start rehabilitating this road.
Hon. Senator Chief Ngungumbane, yes, another topical road again. Wherever I meet you I try to avoid you because you ask for this road. You have been asking for this road for some time Rutenga-Bukwa Road which is also important. As we are rehabilitating some of our major roads we have actually said to the PRI they must pay due respect and utmost importance to some of these roads. Again, in the third quarter, you will see us starting on this road. Some of these roads we have already flighted some tenders to start working on these emotional roads.
Hon. Senator Moyo, yes in Matebeleland South and the good news again you heard from the Cabinet brief that independence for next year is going to be held in Matt South. It is good news again in terms of infrastructure development where we are going to be attending a number of major roads and some of the marginalised areas will benefit. A number of roads within the Plumtree have been left behind for some time. We have started now, we are talking of the Bulawayo-Kezi. Not only that will be attended with the 10-kilometre stretch, we have to start from somewhere as I indicated, then when we finish so that we start something that we accomplish.
We do not want a practice where we would start a road and then store the project and start another project. So, we start the 10 kilometres we finish we do another 10 kilometres. The goodness of us having independence in that province means it will be an accelerated development in terms of our project. Thank you.
HON. SEN. TSHABANGU: Hon. Minister I am so grateful. I am sorry to abuse you a little bit because you are a hard-working Minister and you deserved to be voted a Minister of the year we are so proud of you. Minister in your presentation you touched on surfaced roads and gravel roads. You did not touch much on the earth roads. Largely our road network constitutes about 100,000 kilometres and 20 percent of that is tarred road and possibly 14 percent is around the gravel. Then the earth is around 60 something percent. So, the gap between earth, gravel and tarred roads is quite still remains huge. What are you doing in terms of really narrowing that gap so that we have this unsurfaced earth road being attended to?
HON. SEN. C. NDLOVU: I thank the Minister, when answering questions, he shows that he is someone who is passionate about facilitating. There is one road which is very critical the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road. The road is no longer usable. As a result, people are now using the Bulawayo Solusi Road. They drive 90 kilometres so that they go to Tsholotsho. The Bulawayo Solusi Road used to be a tarred road. This road is becoming bad since heavy lorries which carry timber use this road. It is no longer usable. We are also asking that you put this road into your programme and make sure that it is fixed.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you. Madam President Ma'am. Let me also thank Hon. Senator Tshabangu and for the compliments. In terms of earth roads, I want to thank you for highlighting that. Traditionally we are just managing regrading our roads year in year out and at times causing siltation. In the ministry, we are seized and we are trying to find a lasting solution through research and development where we are now advocating for nanotechnology. Where we maintain make use of our earth together with other chemicals so that we stabilise our roads. This will give durability of five years to ten years without maintaining the roads. So, in terms of managing and bridging the gap as you have alluded to these are some of the contemporary measures that we are taking as a ministry so much that we attend to our roads mostly roads from our rural constituencies. I think this is the technology that we are running with. So, far we have done some tests approved by the ministry and you will see us as we do our tendering processes making sure that companies will start resorting to nanotechnology.
Hon. Sen. Ndlovu’s question, Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road yes, we are targeting about 120 kilometres. We also have Tsholotsho Sipepa Lupani, again on 129 kilometres. So, this is what we are going to be earmarking on our radar and like I said that a number of roads were neglected over years but we have started. Thank you, Madam President Ma’am.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. A. DUBE): Thank you Hon. Minister. Honourable Senators, I think you will agree with the Chair that in this august House we are proud of the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development with the way he responds to our concerns. Hon. Minister we are proud of you in this august House keep it up. Thank you very much.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA) The Senate adjourned at Twenty Minutes past Four O’clock p.m. until Tuesday 10th June, 2025.