THE African Roads Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) has called on the respective governments to consider pooling resources together for cross-border road projects.
This emerged at the Southern Africa Focal Group (ASAFG) conference held in Victoria Falls.
The conference started on Monday, with stakeholders calling for regional collaboration to address pressing road infrastructure challenges.
The gathering brought stakeholders from across southern Africa to discuss strategies for improving road maintenance and exploring innovative solutions to enhance the region’s transport networks.
Transport and Infrastructural Development permanent secretary Pedzisayi Joy Makumbe emphasised the urgency of regional co-operation to tackle the growing pressure on road infrastructure caused by increased vehicle traffic.
“By sharing resources, knowledge and best practices, we can strengthen our capacity to maintain our road networks more effectively,” Makumbe said.
“We must explore the possibility of pooling funds for large, cross-border projects or jointly financing road rehabilitation programs that serve the entire Southern African region.”
The ARMFA is a 35-member country association founded in 2003 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
Its main objective is to form a platform and a network for experience and information sharing on best road maintenance practices in Africa, with the overall aim of ensuring road funds achieve sustainability in funding and functions.
Makumbe said southern African countries were facing funding shortfalls to undertake huge road infrastructure projects, and maintaining existing road networks.
There was also a need for capacity building within road maintenance agencies, he added.
“Training and upskilling technical staff, adopting new road maintenance technologies, and improving project management systems are essential to enhancing the efficiency of road maintenance,” the permanent secretary noted.
“Road authorities must also adopt data-driven approaches to road asset management, using technology to monitor the condition of road networks and prioritize maintenance interventions.”
ASAFG chairperson Matsepang Sekhokoane underscored the significance of collaboration among Southern African countries.
“By coming together, we can leverage our resources, expertise, and experiences to address the unique challenges we face in our respective regions,” Sekhokoane said.
The ASAFG conference seeks to strengthen regional co-operation on road infrastructure development.
