HARARE – Government has intensified efforts to modernize and upgrade parts of the nation’s highways, as well as the Nyamapanda Border Post.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet heard proposals for partnerships between the government and four road construction companies from the minister of transportation and infrastructure development, Felix Mhona.
Government and Leengate Pvt. Ltd.’s proposed partnership on the Mutare By-Pass (Christmas Pass) Project was reviewed and authorized by cabinet.
Leengate Pvt. Ltd. will construct a 26-kilometer By-Pass Road as part of the Project. By providing access to Forbes Border Post, the new road will also ease traffic on the Christmas Pass Road, which has grown dangerous due to its limited carrying capacity and poor condition.
The work will be carried over a period of 12 months, information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in a post Cabinet briefing.
“Cabinet also considered and approved proposed partnership between Government of Zimbabwe and Road Trackers Construction on the Rehabilitation of the Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe Road.
“The project scope will include construction, upgrading and widening of the 43 km Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe Road which links Beitbridge Border Post with Gweru, Kwekwe, Kadoma, Chegutu, Chinhoyi, Karoi and Chirundu Border Post. The work will be carried over out a period of 12 months.
“Proposed Partnership between the Government of Zimbabwe and Bitumen World Consortium on the dualisation, widening, Construction and rehabilitation of the North-South Corridor Link and the New Parliament Main Access. The project will commence at the Mbudzi Interchange and link up to Westgate Circle through High Glen road, Kuwadzana Traffic Circle, Dzivarasekwa and Kirkman roads, and Harare Drive to the New Parliament via the Old Mazowe road and the New Parliament Access road.”
The new road will de-congest traffic in and around Harare’s industrial areas as well as provide seamless connection for the north-south corridor transit traffic. The works will be undertaken in 2 phases over a 24-month period.
Cabinet also approved a proposed partnership between Government and Harare-Nyamapanda Consortium on the construction, widening and rehabilitation of the Nyamapanda Road and Modernisation of the Border Post.
“The project is in line with the Second Republic’s thrust of upgrading and modernising the country’s border posts thereby improving efficiency at the ports of entry. The project aims to upgrade the 238 km Harare- Nyamapanda road as well as modernise the Nyamapanda Border Post through a Build, Operate and Transfer model. The road will be constructed over a 3-year period,” Mutsvgangwa said.
In addition to the above, Cabinet said the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has finalised procurement processes for the reconstruction of the 60 km of badly damaged sections on the 760 km Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road and maintain the entire road so that it is trafficable.
“The road is being prioritised, and Bitumen World is already on the ground. In the medium to the long term, the road will be dualised upon finalization of negotiations with the prospective contractor. Work will also be undertaken on the Victoria Falls-Kazungula road,” Mutsvangwa said.
Priority is also being accorded to the Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane road which reduces significantly the distance to Victoria Falls. In Midlands Province, a contractor will be moving on site to work on 7 km of the damaged Boterekwa Escarpment road.
