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Minister Joram Gumbo

Herald Reporter
Government has hailed the concept of Public Private Partnerships, saying it yielded positive results for the country in some sectors.

Given the country’s financial status, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Jorum Gumbo said it was important to engage private players to partner Government to undertake certain capital projects.

Minister Gumbo said this after touring the Zimbabwe National Road Administration Call Centre in Harare yesterday.

The Call Centre which houses Zinara’s computer system that regulates the tolling and vehicle licensing systems is a PPP arrangement between the road administrator and a private company Univern Enterprises which also trades as Southern Region Trading Company.

Minister Gumbo said the Zinara-Univern Enteprise partnership had revolutionised the country’s tolling system resulting in improved revenue collections for road maintenance.

“Zinara entered into a PPP arrangement with a private company, Univern for the development, implementation and operation of a system to collect and manage the collected fees,” he said.

“The system and operation we have witnessed is modern and has enabled Zinara to collect and manage the road user charges efficiently. This is good because it means more funds will be made available to road authorities as we improve the efficiency of our operations.

“My ministry is satisfied with the progress that Zinara has made — from an annual turnover of $34 million in 2011 but Zinara’s turn over in 2014 rose to $133 million and is targeting $180 million in 2015 which will enable more effective rehabilitation and maintenance of the national road network.”

Minister Gumbo said the country’s road system which forms part of the 10 point plan enunciated by President Mugabe in his State of the Nation Address was key to the success of Zim-Asset.

He said he was moving around the country assessing the state of the roads to have an appreciation of the investment required to refurbish and maintain the country’s road network.

His deputy Engineer Michael Madanha commended Zinara for coming up with a water proof system in collecting toll fees.

He urged the road authority to utilise the money for its intended use.

Zinara acting chief executive Engineer Moses Juma said: “Also another innovation with our PPP partner is the procuring of 80 motorised graders for grading and maintaining our gravel roads.”

Eng Juma said they were looking forward to the official opening of the Airport Road which he described as a flagship project of what they intended to do with all the country’s roads.