News / National
Haulage trucks will not be removed on the roads- Minister
11 Apr 2017 at 06:46hrs | Views
Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Jorum Gumbo has said the haulage trucks will never be removed on the country's roads despite some complainants that they were the causes of roads damage.
Gumbo was responding to concerns raised by senators in parliament that the trucks were causing damage to the roads.
Gumbo also said the government is constructing roads – dualisation; from Bulawayo, and want to construct it from Beitbridge to Victoria Falls.
"When we dualise, and have more lanes, we hope that it will help in reducing accidents but it does not mean that we will not have accidents completely. Haulage trucks cannot be removed from the roads because some of the things cannot be transported using other modes. They will always be there but the drivers have to exercise caution on the roads," he said.
"As she is talking about the rehabilitation of the railways, our railway line is now dilapidated of which poor management and over employment are the causes. Cabinet has now given us a go ahead for us to source some funding to resuscitate our railway lines. Regarding the resuscitation of transport, the Private Public Partnerships (PPP) or other external donors who may come and assist us."
He said they need to look at all those ways of resuscitating the railway system. Unfortunately, the accounting system or the balance books of the National Railways have been so badly managed that "we do not have any partner who may come into the country and gladly come into partnership with us after observing that."
"Now, we are in the process of sourcing for partners who can help us resuscitate the transport and the railway system in Zimbabwe. I am begging you Members of Parliament to please assist us in sourcing for this assistance," he said.
"We have had enquiries coming from people and we know at times we have overuse of the roads, which is at times caused by the poor railway system. These heavy trucks will then destroy the roads."
Gumbo was responding to concerns raised by senators in parliament that the trucks were causing damage to the roads.
Gumbo also said the government is constructing roads – dualisation; from Bulawayo, and want to construct it from Beitbridge to Victoria Falls.
"When we dualise, and have more lanes, we hope that it will help in reducing accidents but it does not mean that we will not have accidents completely. Haulage trucks cannot be removed from the roads because some of the things cannot be transported using other modes. They will always be there but the drivers have to exercise caution on the roads," he said.
He said they need to look at all those ways of resuscitating the railway system. Unfortunately, the accounting system or the balance books of the National Railways have been so badly managed that "we do not have any partner who may come into the country and gladly come into partnership with us after observing that."
"Now, we are in the process of sourcing for partners who can help us resuscitate the transport and the railway system in Zimbabwe. I am begging you Members of Parliament to please assist us in sourcing for this assistance," he said.
"We have had enquiries coming from people and we know at times we have overuse of the roads, which is at times caused by the poor railway system. These heavy trucks will then destroy the roads."
Source - Byo24News
