Transport infrastructure development tops Senate session
Story by Patience Nyagato
THE resuscitation of the country’s railway system was topical during this Thursday’s Senate question and answer session at the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden.
Transport and infrastructure development was topical in Senate this Thursday with the government spelling out its drive to recapitalise the National Railways of Zimbabwe to ease pressure on the road network.
“We need to sort out railway and capacitate NRZ to purchase locomotives and others to be able to run electric-powered railway systems. Passenger trains in Harare and Bulawayo will be up and going. I would like to assure you that as a ministry we want to get the railways to be up and running to move the cargo from the roads to the railway. We are in talks with Belarus among other countries for recapitalization of the railway station,” said the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Joshua Sacco.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable July Moyo confirmed that the government will distribute food relief to at least 2.3 million vulnerable households which are food insecure.
“The vulnerability assessment system helps us come up with areas. And 2.3 million families need to be fed this season. So social protection is making sure that deliveries will be made to vulnerable groups. It started a little bit late. The food ls is stationed at GMB across the country. The planning for this season starts in May. If El Nino continues to affect us we may have an increased food deficit. The government is seized with the matter and we urge that all of us should encourage people to do that which is necessary. Those who did Pfumvudza might have a less food deficit,” he said.
The government also emphasised its commitment to improve education in satellite schools which are recording low pass rates.
“We are also concerned with schools recording zero percent pass rate. We know most of these schools are Satellite schools in formal communal lands which do not even have headmasters. Government is looking into it especially in rural areas to make sure everyone is not left out,” said Honourable Moyo.
Meanwhile, the government has warned land barons who are conniving with local authorities to parcel out land in rural areas to stop the practice.
