Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
NEARLY 50 kilometres of the Kadoma–Golden Valley–Sanyati Bridge Road, which is under rehabilitation, is now fully tarred and opened to traffic, bringing relief to motorists, farmers, miners and traders who rely on the stretch for daily business.
The 84-kilometre road, which links Kadoma to the farming and mining parts of Sanyati, had long been in a poor state, affecting the transport of cotton and maize.
Its rehabilitation is part of the Government’s ongoing national drive to modernise the country’s road network system from locally generated funds.
During a recent visit to the road works last week, Sanyati legislator and Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Polite Kambamura, confirmed the milestone, saying the current development dovetails with President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic’s 2023 election manifesto and promises.
Said Deputy Minister Kambamura: “The contractors have completed the tarring of over 40 kilometres from Golden Valley to Sanyati Bridge.
“Added to that, significant works have also been done from the Kadoma CBD towards Golden Valley. This is a major transformation from the dusty, pothole-riddled road that people used for decades.”
Dr Kambamura, who is a Zanu PF Central Committee member, added that the construction team from one of the contracted companies was currently working on a further 28-kilometre stretch linking Sanyati Bridge to Nyimo Business Centre, a vital rural hub that will ease the transportation of produce and enhance local commerce.
Provincial Roads Engineer, Simbarashe Gomo, noted that the works go beyond resurfacing, with the road being widened to meet modern standards.
“The upgrade will cut travel time between Mashonaland West’s Sanyati district and Gokwe North in the Midlands, improving the movement of goods and people across the provinces,” he said.
Happiness and joy are written all over the faces of the local community and transporters who have commended the government for rehabilitating the road.
“We are grateful to President Mnangagwa and his Government for rehabilitating the road. It shows that the promises made during election time are coming to fruition,” said Mr Sibion Ndawana, a Sanyati villager.
Ms Mavis Chera of Arda Sanyati and a vendor, who has found the rehabilitated road brings much-needed income to her pockets, was also equally delighted.
“The road work has come with much-needed income as traffic volumes have increased,” she said.
Mr Thomas Mushoni, a driver, said the rehabilitation of the road had seen a decrease in fares charged for transportation as motorists were now spending less on spare parts and fuel.
The Kadoma-Sanyati project also dovetails with major national undertakings such as the Harare–Beitbridge Highway, which has seen more than 500 kilometres reconstructed.
The Government has also started working on the Bulawayo-Hwange-Victoria Falls Highway and the Harare-Bindura-Kanyemba road.
A consultant working on the Harare-Chinhoyi-Chirundu trunk road last week met with various stakeholders with properties along the highway in what is viewed as another key milestone.
“A consultant has since engaged stakeholders with properties along the Harare-Chirundu Highway with the view to finding common ground. Their consultations are important as we iron out any issues before the start of the works,” added Eng Gomo.
