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George Maponga in Masvingo
Motorists using the Harare-Beitbridge highway had a surprise Christmas present after a 10km dual carriageway stretch from Masvingo City to an area near Gokomere Mission was opened to traffic.
The opening of the dualised 10km strip follows work by Masimba Construction which started in July this year as part of the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading of the Harare-Beitbridge road.
Government contracted five local companies including Masimba Construction to undertake the project with nearly 400km having been covered to date. The stretch of the highway that falls under Masvingo province starts from Bubi River on the border with Matebeleland South to Shashe River, which bisects Masvingo and Midlands.
About 216km of highway sections under Masvingo have been rehabilitated and opened to traffic with 78 kilometres still outstanding.
Masvingo provincial road engineer Mr Robert Mukome says the highway rehabilitation and upgrading exercise entailed dualising 10km before entry into a major city and another 10km out.
Speaking during a tour of the newly opened dualised stretch from Masvingo to near Gokomere today, which was attended by senior Government officials including Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira, Engineer Mukome said the dualisation of 10km sections into and out of major cities is being done to cater for future expansion of urban settlements.
In his remarks, Minister Chadzamira lauded President Mnangagwa for his visionary leadership which enabled him to see the efficacy of hiring local companies to upgrade and rehabilitate the Harare-Beitbridge highway.
He said President Mnangagwa had set Zimbabwe and Masvingo on firm solid ground to attain upper middle income economy status well before 2030.
Masvingo’s Gross Domestic Product was expected to grow exponentially thanks to an upgraded road network which is a key enabler for economic growth and expansion.
Besides Masimba Construction other local companies hired to upgrade and rehabilitate the Harare-Beitbridge highway are Bitumen World, Tensor Systems, Fossil and Exodus and Company.
Online Reporter