By Desire Tshuma
Harare – The Government has intensified efforts to modernise the management of Zimbabwe’s road network through a specialised training programme aimed at improving the collection and analysis of road condition data across the country.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, working in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA), has launched a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme at Mandel Training Centre. The training comes ahead of the nationwide Road Condition Survey.
The initiative has brought together engineers, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialists and surveyors drawn from the Ministry, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA), the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), as well as representatives from urban and rural local authorities.
During the training, participants are being equipped with practical skills to operate a newly introduced Android-based Road Condition Survey System. The system is expected to improve the accuracy and reliability of road condition assessments throughout the country.
Officials said the digital platform will enable field teams to capture, verify and transmit road data more efficiently. This will provide engineers and planners with reliable information to guide maintenance, rehabilitation and future road development projects.
The programme is also expected to standardise the classification of road assets nationwide. This will ensure consistency in data collection while strengthening coordination among government agencies responsible for road infrastructure.
The training forms part of the Government’s broader drive to embrace digital technologies in infrastructure management. Authorities anticipate that better-quality data will support evidence-based decision-making, improve the allocation of resources and accelerate the rehabilitation of the country’s road network.
The National Road Condition Survey is expected to provide a comprehensive picture of the state of Zimbabwe’s roads. The findings will help authorities prioritise interventions and enhance transport connectivity in line with the country’s infrastructure development agenda.