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Cletus Mushanawani Mashonaland Central Bureau
MASHONALAND Central provincial administrator Mr Cosmas Chiringa has called for the upgrading of two porous border posts and roads in the province to match standards in their neighbouring provinces of Mozambique and Zambia to boost trade relations among the three countries.

In an interview on Tuesday, Mr Chiringa said: “Our province is privileged to share borders with Zambia and Mozambique. However, our roads linking us to these sister countries are gravel roads that do not promote trade relations.

“All of our border posts are porous and lack infrastructure to encourage business, whereas on the other side of the border with Zambia in Luangwa, they have developed infrastructure that include surfaced roads, customs offices, electricity and other supporting structures.

“If the Mvurwi-Kanyemba Highway is surfaced, it can provide the shortest distance to Central Africa. The proposed construction of a pontoon by Zambia to facilitate the crossing of up to 30-tonne cargo across the Zambezi River is at an advanced stage. We requested for budgetary support from Government and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development allocated $3,1 million for the construction of the 3,5-kilometre tarred road in Kanyemba leading to Zambezi River and Zinara has also availed $600 000 for the construction of a landing bay.

“If these projects are fully implemented, the much sought after development will be attained in the province and country at large.” Mr Chiringa said the importance of a good road network could not be over emphasised in the context of achieving economic development as enunciated by the new political dispensation.

“President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has set the country on a new trajectory and on top of the agenda is economic recovery and prosperity, which can only be achieved by ensuring that our roads are trafficable to facilitate smooth movement of goods and services,” he said.

“This will also assist local authorities to improve revenue collection, which can translate to improved quality of service provisions.” Mr Chiringa said despite being one of the richest provinces in the country in terms of agriculture potential and mineral deposits, local authorities were not performing well. Mashonaland Central is endowed with vast gold and nickel deposits.

“In terms of agriculture, we brag ourselves to be number one in terms of contributing to the country’s food security,” said Mr Chiringa.

“The province is mainly composed of three agricultural regions, namely Region 2A, which covers Mazowe area and parts of Bindura, 2B covers Guruve, Shamva, the upper part of Mt Darwin and Centenary. We also have Mbire, Rushinga, Lower Muzarabani and Mt Darwin falling under Region Four, which is most suitable for livestock, small grains and cotton production. Mr Chiringa hailed efforts by Government to resuscitate the cotton industry through supporting farmers with inputs.

“There is much potential for the province to be the hub of the cotton industry in Zimbabwe since a lot of investments had been made on infrastructure in Rushinga, Muzarabani, Mt Darwin and Mazowe districts,” he said.