adminMasvingo Correspondent
THE long awaited dualisation of the Harare-Beitbridge highway will begin early next year and be complete in three years.
Addressing journalists after commissioning the refurbished Buffalo Range Airport in Chiredzi on Friday, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Michael Madanha, said the $1,2 billion road project will be done in phases by three contractors.
He said the project would also create employment opportunities for locals.
“We’re going to begin work on Harare-Beitbridge dualisation early next year and planning to finish it in three years time if resources remain available.
“We’re ready to commence the project, which will promote investment in the country and as a ministry we’re seized with the initiative,” said Deputy Minister Madanha.
He admitted delays in implementing the project due to legal conflict between the government and the contractor, ZimHighways Consortium, which had been initially awarded a tender to do the job.
He said once the dualisation was complete there will be improved trade between other countries and Zimbabwe given that infrastructural development is a vehicle to business and investment.
“My ministry is serious about Harare-Beitbridge dualisation and we’re already moving with speed. All the contractual disputes that we’ve with a contractor are now a thing of the past and everyone is pulling towards the same direction.
“Once the road is improved, business between us and other countries will also improve, that’s our main objective as the sister ministry,” he said.
Upon completion the road will be a dual carriageway accommodating more traffic at once.
In a recent interview ZimHighways Consortium, managing director, Darlington Masenda, whose company will be part of the contractors doing the work, said work would start in March next year .
derick.khumalo