The Develpoment Bank of Southern Africa support for public-private-partnerships in Zimbabwe through the provision of a R1,4 billion loan to Infralink (Pvt) Limited, has so far created 800 direct jobs.

The loan has facilitated the rehabilitation of the 801,5-kilometre Mutare-Harare-Bulawo-Plumtree highway.

Infralink is a 70 and 30 percent joint venture between the Zimbabwe National Road Administration and Group Five Limited of South Africa.

DBSA's external communications specialist Jabu Mthembu said that the initiative was poised to create more job opportunities over time.

"The objective of such programme is to rehabilitate key existing national routes in Zimbabwe which shall allow for the cost effective movement of goods and persons, both internally as well as cross-border.

"A further impact is poverty alleviation by way of job creation, with 800 direct jobs created and opportunities to increase this number over time," he said.

In addition he said the programme has big potential of improving Zimbabwe's access to Foreign Direct Investment which will give the Zimbabwean economy the much-needed boost and stimulus for the country's economic growth.

"The Zimbabwean economy almost melted 10 years ago and the DBSA is demonstrating its support for the resuscitation of the Zimbabwean economy as it success impacts on that of the Sadc region," he said.

He added that the rehabilitation of the Mutare-Harare-Bulawo-Plumtree highways is expected to contribute a great deal to the enhancement of regional integration by providing linkages with Sadc trade corridors to neighbouring Mozambique and Botswana.

"In order to make this project sustainable, tolling revenues have been sanctioned by the Zimba-bwean ministries of Transport and Finance in a multi-party agreement," he said.