By Costa Nkomo
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has sounded the alarm, warning that Zimbabwe’s deteriorating railway infrastructure poses a major threat to the region’s ambitious investment goals.
Despite the country’s strategic position for boosting trade and investment within Southern Africa, the state of its railways is seen as a major stumbling block.
Speaking at the ongoing 7th SADC Industrialisation Week officially opened in Harare, today, AfDB Head of Mission Moono Mupotola said while countries like Mozambique boast a strong rail network that connects to Zimbabwe, without significant investment in Zimbabwe’s own railway system, trade and investment aspirations will be choked.
“Let’s look at the infrastructure. Let’s revise it. For instance the railway system. A lot of our goods are being transported using roads and it’s not efficient and this is just decimating our roads,” Mupotola said.
“So let us try and revitalise our railways system as this is something that the AfDB has been very keen on doing with the sub-regions.
“We see Zimbabwe as a very key interlocutor for the railway. I was speaking to the Minister of Transport of Mozambique to say, yes, you have a very nice railway system until to the border, but if we don’t tackle the railway system in Zimbabwe, then your investment will not be efficient.”
The AfDB, a leading financial institution dedicated to the economic development of Africa, emphasizes the importance of well-functioning infrastructure as a critical driver of growth and prosperity.
The bank’s warning serves as a reminder that Zimbabwe’s railway network, in its current state, could act as a barrier to attracting the necessary investment to fuel the region’s economic ambitions.
The President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government has embarked on a road infrastructure overhaul although this has been done with haste to show a good picture to the visitors of the 44th SADC Summit scheduled for mid-August 2024.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said Zimbabwe is a safe and attractive investment destination. Chiwenga was speaking at the 7th SADC Industrialisation Week which he officially opened in Harare today.
“Coming back home, let me assure you that Zimbabwe is a safe and attractive investment destination. The government, led by His Excellency, The President Cde. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is committed to creating a business-friendly environment and attracting global investments.
“The Zimbabwe Development Investment Agency (ZIDA) and One Stop Investment Services Center (OSISC) streamline investment processes, reducing registration timelines. Harmonizing investment laws, enhancing investment facilitation, and prioritizing commercially viable projects will catalyze investment and economic development in the whole region,” Chiwenga said.
Chiwenga also said that the SADC region holds a potential for investment as the recent discoveries of lithium in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo should be an answer to the region’s e energy woes that have been recently worsened by climate change.
“The SADC region holds significant investment potential. According to SADC reports, its 16 Member States contribute to 27.78% of Africa’s GDP and attracted 55.10% of total Foreign Direct Investment inflows to Africa in 2021. The region boasts valuable minerals, offering investment opportunities in extraction, beneficiation, and value addition. Recent discoveries of lithium in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe present opportunities for lithium beneficiation and in the long term the manufacturing of lithium batteries and be a key player in the manufacturing of electrical vehicles.
“SADC Member States should capitalise on these resources, and invest in value addition and beneficiation to maximize foreign currency earnings.”
The truth is that the management of the railway system in the country was laid to waste by the politics of Zanupf…