Business Reporter
THE Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) is currently supporting the refurbishment of railway infrastructure in a move which will go a long way to ease the movement of goods and boost trade going into the future.
Speaking to Parliamentarians this Wednesday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona hailed the MIF’s initiative.
“Thank you Hon. Speaker. It is true that most of our roads are being destroyed because of the volume of traffic and most loads are being transported through our roads instead of the railway system. You would find that there are a lot of potholes because of the loads.
“I believe that we are at a stage where the National Railways of Zimbabwe is being refurbished and this has been taken up by the Mutapa Investment Fund. We have 2.7 kilometres that cover the width and breadth of Zimbabwe and 50% of that is going to be under refurbishment,” he said.
Mhona said already, work on the Beira Corridor, which links Zimbabwe with Mozambique from Machipanda, the railway system is under construction.
“From Mutare to Harare, we are preparing that part so that we improve our transportation. In other countries, big banks normally fund such projects but as a nation, we have one annual budget and when we face drought and natural disaster, it is the same budget that we look into,” he said.
He bemoaned the impact of economic sanctions facing the nation but assured Parly that once the railway projects are completed all the goods will be encouraged to be transported on railway.
