Brian Rungano Temba
One of the second republic`s many successes is the ongoing road rehabilitation in urban areas.
After seeing the state of roads in urban areas, President Mnangagwa declared the roads a state of disaster in February this year.
In just ten months, roads that had been reduced to craters are now impeccable.
The three year programme started off with a thunderous beginning with big names in the construction industry winning tenders to partake in the rehabilitation of the Beitbridge, Chirundu highway that goes through Masvingo and Harare.
Among them were, Bitumen World, Fossil Contracting, Masimba, Tensor Systems and Exodus Company.
Among those gifted contracts, is a humble company called the Central Mechanical Equipment Department Pvt Ltd, also known as (CMED).
The company, which is well known for its work in servicing motor vehicles mostly for Government, driver training and shuttle services is expanding its portfolio into road construction.
Although the company may not boast of the same pedigree and work trail as the other tender winners, the logic behind its inclusion is nothing short of genius.
In Harare, CMED is already learning the ropes handling the construction of key roads in the city network including Masotsha Ndlovu in Waterfalls.
If CMED masters the art of road construction, as they are already demonstrating this may be a turning point in the infrastructure maintenance matrix of the country.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development Mr Theodius Chinyanga explained the potential benefits likely to be brought by the inclusion of CMED in road construction.
“CMED is a parastatal under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and as an internal contractor its easier and quicker to procure their services,” said Mr Chinyanga.
This means in future, if CMED finally has the requisite capacity, it will be easier to Government to instruct or commission road rehabilitation without going through tender processes which take time.
However, CMED will not be cushioned from competition.
Mr Chinyanga said there is no intention to create a monopoly.
They will simply be called to action when there are quick execution projects, for instance a major carriageway which connects to a farming community, which may be in need of rehabilitation before the commencement of the marketing season.
A well functioning CMED can perhaps take over road rehabilitation from local authorities who have showed that they lack capacity.
In Bulawayo, Government availed ZWL$625 million for road rehabilitation.
However, works have stalled because there is a shortage of tar, according to the Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube.
Such excuses at a time when the rest of the country is moving with remarkable speed in rehabilitating roads become suspect.
The total funding that has been committed to Urban Council roads rehabilitation is ZW$1.3 billion.
If a significant chunk of that money would go to the CMED coffers, the company would be able to mordernise its system and grow its capacity.
This cuts more corners, legally of course , as it becomes much easier and involves less paperwork.
More like the relationship between the Government of China and the China Communications and Construction Company (CCCC).
CCCC is, like the CMED a private limited company that works with Government principally engaged in the design and construction of transportation infrastructure, dredging and heavy machinery manufacturing business.
Right now it is worth about 1,3 million Yuan, which translates to about USD$ 204 billion.
The growth of the company was a result of a deliberate decision by the Chinese government to direct work towards the company.
It covers the following business aspects: port, terminal, road, bridge, railway, tunnel, civil work design and construction, capital dredging and reclamation dredging, container crane, heavy marine machinery, large steel structure and road machinery manufacturing, and international project contracting, import and export trading services.
This is the very heartbeat of all the Infrastructural development in The People’s Republic of China.
A set up of this nature is necessary in Zimbabwe especially with the goals President Mangagwa has set for the Second Republic which heavily depend on a conducive infrastructural support.
CMED recieved the National Leadership and Management Excellence Award in the Public Sector Category for the year 2021 from Zimbabwe Institute of Management.
Their scope of business has to reach beyond Repair of Public Vehicles and road construction.
This will minimise the externalisation of forex in subcontracting and lags in development.
The a detailed report on the current achievements made by The ERRP2, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development confirmed that there were financial commitments that are currently tied up on circulation and are yet to be honoured.
If it was all up to CMED, to a larger extent, work would not cease pending the honouring of that commitment.
It may be hard for an ordinary eye to see the wisdom in including CMED in road construction, but it is the proverbial stitch in time.
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