PLANS to develop a modern light rail system to service intra-city commuter routes in Harare are advancing rapidly, with work on the multi-million-dollar project now set to commence, as the parties to the deal finalise the project’s implementation framework agreement.
In 2019, the City of Harare signed a memorandum of understanding with the project developer, Sesani Private Limited, to develop a light rail system, also known as tramways, in the city, with Government and council experts now finalising analysis of the project contracts.
The authorities will soon begin mobilising financial resources for the project after agreeing to a hybrid funding model, where Government, council and the contractor will all contribute resources.
Preliminarily, the light rail line is envisaged to cover suburbs such as Dzivaresekwa, Budiriro, Glen View and Mbare, as well as Highfield industrial areas and the city centre.
The line will also branch out to cover Chitungwiza, Ruwa, Epworth and Mabvuku.
The Sunday Mail has gathered that the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) has given the project the greenlight.
Responding to questions from The Sunday Mail, Ministry of Local Government and Public Works director for communication and advocacy Mr Gabriel Masvora said the project will be developed through a public-private partnership.
“The rail project for Harare is planned to benefit the population in the whole metropolitan area,” he said.
“However, priority will be given to the high-density areas, then medium-density areas and finally low-density areas.
He said legal teams representing all the parties were finalising the project contract before it is ratified.
“The Government is facilitating public-private partnerships with developers to construct the new rail routes,” he added.
“Funding of the project will be done jointly among the City of Harare, the Government and the investor, hence the partners have to sit down and determine realistic project costs.
“The project implementation time frame will be determined after the feasibility study is completed.
“However, where such projects have been implemented, they were done between four and five years.”
Acting Harare town clerk Engineer Phakamile Mabhena-Moyo confirmed the development.
“The main proposal remains working with Sesani. This is still going through formalities, according to the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency,” he said.
ZIDA corporate affairs manager Ms Judith Mbetu said the parties to the deal were finalising negotiations.
“This project is work in progress and the contracting agencies and private partner are currently negotiating terms of the contracts,” said Ms Mbetu.
De-congesting
Mr Masvora said a comprehensive plan to address transport challenges in the capital was being implemented.
The plan, he said, involved progressively de-congesting the city and removing pirate taxis and commuter omnibuses from the roads. “We are developing and reviewing the regulations that guide the operations of the urban transport sector (the draft statutory instrument was adopted by Cabinet).
“We are also continuing the procurement of buses for ZUPCO,” said Mr Masvora.
“We are also facilitating the recapitalisation of bus companies through the waiver of import duty of buses for ZUPCO and private operators, and we are also having coordinated enforcement of traffic by-laws and regulation by relevant agencies.”
Harare Resident Trust executive director Mr Precious Shumba said the ultimate solution to public transport challenges in the city was to develop a modern railway system.
“Again, this should be accompanied by a well-developed railway and road network infrastructure that facilitates mass coordination and transportation of commuters. This is far more realistic because they simply have to upgrade and improve the existing system,” said Mr Shumba. – Sunday Mail
