Africa: New Highway to Promote African Consciousness

7 February 2002
BuaNews (Tshwane)
By Thabo Mokgola

Pretoria — Transport minister Dullah Omar today launched a new highway that will stretch from coast to coast across national borders.

The Bakwena Platinum Highway will improve the link between Maputo in Mozambique and Walvis Bay in Namibia and is the first high quality transcontinental route in Sub-Saharan Africa.

'Transport needs a holistic plan that will take into account the needs of the country's citizens as well as serving to unite the rest of Africa, to promote African consciousness and the African Renaissance,' Minister Omar said at the launch in Rustenburg in the North West.

'We need to have confidence that ensures that the image we project to the world is that of a country which boasts a world-class infrastructure.

This road will ultimately lead to better utilisation of road, maritime and rail transport infrastructure,' the minister explained.

The new highway will reduce export and shipping times by as much as ten shipping days, while the distance by road between Johannesburg and Windhoek will be shortened by some 500 kilometres.

Minister Omar said the project would render an enormous contribution towards social upliftment and empowerment of the people, particularly in the region.

It is anticipated that close to 7 000 jobs that will be created within the region will ultimately have a positive impact on the regional economy.

Much emphasis would be placed on black empowerment and the development of entrepreneurs, small medium and macro enterprises (SMMEs) and the growth of affirmable business enterprises (ABES).

The project, which is the third largest road development in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), is expected to inject more than R3-billion into the economy and will create about 3 000 direct jobs during the construction period.

It also marks the third project under the umbrella of the all-important public-private partnership, with the latter committing money to the tune of about R8-billion.

Also, about R800-million will stem directly from foreign investment while the European Investment Bank will be involved with toll road programmes.

'This road will help to realise the economic potential of the region by stimulating economic activities and opportunities in various sectors,' said the minister.

These include tourism, mining and industrial sectors.

Minister Omar urged the people to embrace the culture of shared responsibility in ensuring that the road benefits everyone.

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