Robert Mugabe calls for improved infrastructure in Africa

Newly elected Chairperson of the African Union-AU Robert Mugabe has urged African countries to redouble their efforts towards improving physical infrastructure and interconnecting themselves.

Mr. Mugabe, who is also President of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said lack of good physical infrastructure for road, railway, sea and air transport sectors has hampered economic development on the continent.

In his acceptance speech on his new position as AU chairperson, President Mugabe said that Africa’s current road, rail, air and sea route networks were not sufficiently developed to stimulate intra-African trade, investment and tourism.

“We need to continue, and perhaps redouble, our current collective efforts in this sector. The road and power projects that we are developing are a positive step in our quest to improve African infrastructure,” he said.

Mr. Mugabe, who was elected yesterday, said AU member states should therefore work closely and coordinate with partners that were committed to developing Africa’s infrastructure as envisaged in the continent’s Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA).