MP calls on cash-strapped government to take over the debt of Air Zimbabwe and National Railways

Computerisation can plug illicit outflows, revenue leakages and it can have a spike in revenue generation.  I call for such computerisation right now and integration of all systems.  Last week, the Minister of Home Affairs came in to say, as long as they are embedded in the transport management system of the country, there is going to be a lot of revenue generation; not only that, there is going to be an unimpeded advance towards economic development because of the reduction of road blocks.  It was not I who said it.  It was the Minister of Home Affairs who said it under oath.  He said that it was going to occur this week.  As your Committee Madam Speaker Maam, we are awaiting for the spike in revenue generation, effective policing and reduction and eradication of road blocks.  That Madam Speaker Maam, speaks to an effective and efficient transport management system. As long as we do not integrate these systems, we are shooting ourselves in the foot.

As I conclude, we have spoken so vociferously all the time about the parastatals that fall under the Ministry of Transport.  These include Air Zimbabwe, the Civil Aviation Authority, CMED and NRZ.  I am aware that the US$653 million required at NRZ that is as enshrined in your report from your Committee.  I am also aware there is a US$1,300 billion required at Air Zimbabwe.  I am also alive to the issue that there is a lot of money owed by ZEC to CMED.  As alluded to in this report, if Government does not take over the debt of Air Zimbabwe and clean the balance sheet of National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ),  you might as well abolish your Committee because we have nothing to do.  We need to efficiently monitor and have oversight on these parastatals, aware that they are turning over a new leaf.

Madam Speaker, why do I say this?  Government took over the COTTCO debt of US$68 million.  It has given more than four seasons worth of free inputs to cotton farmers.  It can also take over the debt of Air Zimbabwe and NRZ so that you make the Auditor-General’s job very easy and you also make the job of yours truly and your Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development quite amenable to modern day trends in order that we can be embedded as Air Zimbabwe with other international organisations and airlines to create an aviation hub that is second to none, in particular at Victoria Falls airport and to also complement and augment the existing rail network then we can create a north-south corridor that is second to none.  By so doing, we can obviously have an effective, efficient, transparent and illicit outflows and flaws free transport system.  I thank you.

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