Harare — GOVERNMENT is working on a national infrastructure master plan to cover current needs, medium-term solutions and long-term vision.

The infrastructure cluster, an interministerial coalition, met in the capital last week and dissected cross-cutting issues pertaining to infrastructure maintenance, rehabilitation and development.

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara is leading the process of crafting of the country's new infrastructure master plan. DPM Mutambara said Government was trying to create an atmosphere that encourages cohesion and maximisation of synergies in all sectors.

"To drive our industrial growth and ensure capacity utilisation rises and international money inflows and rises in disposable incomes we need to solve challenges around infrastructure," said DPM Mutambara.

Government ministers, permanent secretaries of the various ministries, senior Government officials and the private sector executives, attended the workshop.

The infrastructure master plan will mainly focus on energy, telecommunications, transport systems, information communication technology and water systems among other areas.

DPM Mutambara said the meeting sought to discuss possible ways of financing infrastructure development.

He said available options included the economic tariff model, strategic financing by the Government, debt financing and share capital.

In addition, the workshop aimed at setting the framework for an infrastructure audit and when the asset register is in place another audit would be conducted to determine utilisation levels. This would form the basis for the formulation of a national infrastructure master plan.

The DPM emphasised the need to ensure the master plan recognises the critical importance of guaranteeing affordable but cost effective tariffs for all key infrastructure leveraging the economy.

While Government is keen on establishing a national infrastructure master plan the Ministry of Finance will not earmark much funds for new projects under the 2010 National Budget.

Ministry of Finance Acting director, budgets, Mr Fidelis Ngorora said the bulk of funding would be earmarked for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the country's existing infrastructure.

"This would encompass infrastructure such as roads, energy projects, Hwange and Kariba as well as our water systems. We want to channel resources to the key enablers such as energy, water and transport, but we will also look at health and safety issues, cholera mitigation as well as sanitation issues," said Mr Ngorora.

Government's infrastructure master plan would also propose the approach to be taken in dealing with infrastructure and viability problems at state enterprises as well as the parastatals.

In this regard infrastructure issues at State institutions such as the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Air Zimbabwe, the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Zesa Holdings would be addressed.

The Government has over the years failed to complete several infrastructure projects across the country owing to financial limitations.