Source: Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge road key for regional economic activities – herald
Victor Maphosa
Mashonaland East Bureau
MASHONALAND East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Advocate Itayi Ndudzo has highlighted the critical role the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway plays in economic activities not only of Zimbabwe but throughout the Sadc region.
Adv Ndudzo, who joined his Transport and Infrastructure Development counterpart Felix Mhona in the commissioning of Manyame Bridge, along Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway, which was opened to traffic on Monday, said the upgrading of various road infrastructure eases vehicle congestion in the capital and surrounding areas.
“This is the road that leads us to the biggest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is South Africa, and this is the road that also leads us into so many other provinces of Zimbabwe,” he said.
“You realise that time is money and business requires convenience and a smooth flow of traffic for transactions to be expedited.
“We are very happy that this bridge complements the already existing Trabablas interchange which has helped ease congestion, and created convenience for the travelling public and for those who are moving goods from South Africa to Harare and beyond, but also for the smooth flow and convenience of our people.
“We now have a lot of people who are now living in the corridors of Harare and dormitory towns and settlements of Harare. They have been struggling to get to work on time and to get back home on time. With this bridge we know that there will be a significant reduction of the time they spend on the road and they will take that time and spend it productively. So we are very happy and very elated as a people of Mashonaland East province.
“For us this is a true manifestation of what the full package of Vision 2030 will bring which is world-class infrastructure built by our own in fulfilment of President Mnangagwa’s mantra.”
Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) chief executive officer Mrs. Joyline Zindaga also said, “I am very happy and proud of our local contractors. The craftsmanship and dedication they are showing on these projects is remarkable.
“Zimbabwe is built by Zimbabweans with unmatched quality and delivered with pride. This is how we build our nation, one project at a time.”
As part of the construction of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, the Government is dualising the road as it approaches towns or busy areas, and already, from Beitbridge, about 5km have been dualised to where the roads to Masvingo and Bulawayo split, while between Ngundu Business Centre and Runde River, 16km is being dualised.
The Government dualised a 20km stretch leading into Masvingo on the Harare-Masvingo Highway and is targeting 36km as the highway heads into Harare.
On the Harare-Beitbridge Highway, there are plans to construct some footbridges and engineers from the Ministry of Transport have been engaged.
This will allow pedestrians to cross the highway safely while crossing points for schoolchildren will be given special priority.
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