Infrastructure masterplan includes 33 transport-related projects

Southern Africa’s existing port infrastructure will not be able to cope with an expected five times increase in port throughputs by 2030. This was one of the challenges identified at the first stakeholder workshop on the SADC regional infrastructure development master plan (RIDMP) held in Johannesburg in December last year. More than 100 delegates attended the workshop whose aim was to reach consensus on a strategic framework for the RIDMP that was first developed in 2009. With no funding in 2010, it was re-launched last year with the support of Trademark Southern Africa and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. The aim is to have it in place for at least 15 years to define benchmarks, minimum and ultimate regional requirements and development targets in the area of infrastructure. According to Barney Curtis, executive director of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), providing a development framework for infrastructure to meet the requirements and targets is essential for the southern and east African regions. He said following the workshop, which was also attended by directors of SADC, Comesa and EAC, some 58 projects were included in the RIDMP. Some 33 of these projects were in the transport sector. “Weighbridges were not included in the report as SADC noted these were included in its regulation and policy programme,” said Curtis. “Fesarta suggested as they were part of road infrastructure, they should also be included in the RIDMP. Border posts, while mentioned in the report, were also not covered in detail and as they are the main reason for border delays this should also be addressed.” Curtis said the next step following the workshop was for a framework to be created following inputs from member states and stakeholders. “An action plan will then be drafted for the RIDMP,” said Curtis. No timeline, however, was available as to when this would be concluded.