In a country where there is less or no corruption in public construction projects, US$100 million is a lot money if put to good use and spent well without extortionate pricing and payments of bribes.
In China, where corruption is not tolerated (there is death sentence for corruption), US$100 million was used to build a stunning three-story bridge in Shanxi Province, China, near Taiyuan City, for instance.
The bridge, situated on the 1 370-metre-high Tianlong Mountain, stands at an impressive 350 metres in height, offering an aerial view resembling a colossal dragon hovering over the mountain.
The bridge is part of the big Tianlongshan Highway, aptly nicknamed the “Highway Above the Clouds.” With a total length of about 30 kilometres, the circle-shaped bridge has become a marvel of modern and futuristic engineering, captivating both locals and online audiences.
Constructed with around seven thousand tonnes of steel, the box-girder highway bridge has quickly become a hotspot for tourists and locals alike.
Its unique design, spreading over the mountain, has turned it into a symbol of contemporary architectural prowess.
The structure’s distinctive three stories set against mountainous and scenic backdrop create an awe-inspiring visual effect.
Compare (taking into account all the economic circumstances and nuances) that with what Zimbabwe is struggling to build on an intersection which sits on the Masvingo highway on the southern edge of the city – the Mbudzi traffic exchange.
The Zimbabwean project will cost US$88 million – which is almost the same budget as the China project, broken down into US$65 million spent on the interchange structure itself and US$23 million being allocated for vital works such as detours, relocation costs and some fees, but it is clear in terms pricing, the Zimbabwean project – an ordinary road structure – is overpriced.
That has been said many times, including by experts. What is now needed is to apply investigative scientific methods to show that Zimbabwean taxpayers are being robbed in broad daylight again on that overpriced Mbudzi project.
A more sophisticated traffic exchange in Durban, South Africa, the longest interchange in Africa which connects the M41 eastbound with the N2 southbound, only cost R1.14 billion (US$64 million at the current exchange rate).
Corruption can have a serious impact and consequences for infrastructure projects across three areas, according to the Anti-Corruption Resource Centre.
First, corruption in infrastructure provision is likely to increase prices and inflate project costs.
Secondly, corruption can cause delays in project completion and lead to poor quality infrastructure.
Thirdly, corruption in infrastructure development is likely to distort the public spending structure, with a bias towards high value, high complexity investments into new infrastructure as opposed to spending on maintenance and operations.
Corruption, which now reached pandemic levels, is a big tax on the poor in Zimbabwe, a big drag on the economy and a huge cost to development.
