BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

The African Roads Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) conference in Victoria Falls, is wrapping up today, after two days of intense discussions on the urgent need for collaboration and regional cooperation to address climate change and promote economic growth.

Dr. George Manyaya, Chairman of ZINARA (Zimbabwe National Road Administration), set the tone for the conference, emphasizing the importance of sustainable road infrastructure.

“Roads are a critical enabler for all economic activity, linking people, goods, and services,” he said.

“As emerging economies we have the honourous task of accelerating development and maintenance simultaneously, therefore the responsibility on our shoulders is immense. It has been further compounded by the effects of climate change which we cannot ignore, and therefore we cannot afford to act in silos. Indeed collaboration and cooperation are the new business models that we must adopt and leverage for sustainable discharge of our responsibilities as road fund managers.”

Officially opening the conference, Engineer Pedzisayi Joy Makumbe, Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development, echoed Manyaya’s sentiments, noting that the state of roads is a regional priority, affecting trade, economic growth, and livelihoods.

“Our discussions today come at a time when the state of our roads is of utmost concern, not only as a matter of national interest but as a regional priority,” she said.

“We must explore the possibility of pooling funds for large, cross-border projects or jointly financing road rehabilitation programs that serve the entire Southern African region…However, across much of the region, road authorities face significant challenges, including limited technical expertise, outdated equipment, and inefficient procurement systems. In many cases, the coordination between road funds and road authorities is weak, leading to delays in project implementation and cost overruns.”

To address these challenges, she said countries must invest in building the capacity of road authorities, training and up skilling technical staff, adopting new road maintenance technologies, and improving project management systems.

The conference highlighted the symbiotic relationship between road funds and road authorities, emphasizing trust, transparency, and accountability.

“The relationship between road funds and road authorities is critical to ensuring the sustainable maintenance of our road networks,” Makumbe stressed.

“Road funds must ensure the timely and adequate disbursement of resources, while road authorities must demonstrate that they are utilizing these funds efficiently and effectively to deliver tangible results.”

As the conference draws to a close today, delegates from across the region are expected to leave with actionable solutions for sustainable road maintenance and development.

“We must break down the silos and create a collaborative environment where road funds and road authorities work as partners,” Manyaya urged.

With the ARMFA conference coming to an end, the emphasis on collaboration and regional cooperation is expected to continue, as road funds and authorities work together to address the challenges posed by climate change and promote economic growth.