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Business Reporter
The Development Bank of South Africa wants ZINARA to update its debt reserve account to unlock an estimated $147 million for the dualisation of the Norton-Kadoma highway, a senior official said.ZINARA is supposed to be up to date with the payment of its debt reserve account, which is principal plus interest as well as update the payment for the maintenance reserve account.

As part of the conditions to get funding, accounts for Infralink, which is a joint venture between ZINARA and South African construction company Group five in particular should be up to date in terms of auditing from the period 2010-2013.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development, ZINARA acting chief executive Engineer Moses Juma said they had been given conditions by DBSA in order to unlock funding for the dualisation of the road.

“The dualisation would be from Norton to Kadoma to the extent of 100km and within that distance there would be four high level bridges and from a DBSA point of view, they asked us to access the disbursement of that particular project only if we have completed the phase one.

“The rehabilitation from Plumtree to Mutare is phase one and according to our schedules we anticipate to complete the project by December 2014. This is also one of the conditions that we must meet,” said Mr Juma.

About 93 percent or 767km of the 820 km road stretch has been done.

Engineer Juma said as per DBSA requirements, the scope of the work from Norton to Kadoma must be counter signed or agreed upon by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

In addition, Infralink must provide a detailed bill of quantities and costing of the project and submit. A South African company has been seconded by DBSA once the design and cost has been submitted to independently evaluate and asses the design and cost for phase two and check adequacy and ensure value for money.

The estimated cost for the dualisation of Norton-Kadoma highway is an estimated $147 million.

The cost of the rehabilitation of the Plumtree-Mutare highway has been pegged at $206,6 million and  this reduces to about $250 000 per kilometre inclusive of toll gate construction.