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Takunda Maodza Mutare Bureau
GOVERNMENT has awarded a tender for the tarring of the Jopa-Kopa Road, in a development expected to unlock the economic potential of Chimanimani, a district rich in tourism, horticulture and timber.
Serious attention is being given to Chimanimani of late after Cyclone Idai killed hundreds and destroyed infrastructure worth over US$1 billion in March this year.
Chimanimani East legislator Cde Joshua Sacco told The Herald yesterday that Bitumen World had won the tender.
The company is already in Chimanimani building bridges and repairing roads that were damaged by the cyclone. It will turn to Jopa-Kopa Road once it has completed the current contract.
“The Jopa to Kopa contract was awarded to Bitumen World. The company is busy mobilising equipment and material, as we speak. They have since signed a contract with Government and will attend to the Jopa-Kopa Road once they finish here,” said Cde Sacco.
The legislator wants another road in the constituency tarred as well. “It is our wish that with time the Kopa to Machongwe road will be tarred as well,” said Cde Sacco.
“We have challenges in this area. Our farmers are failing to take their produce to the market and as the legislator for this area I am very happy with development (upgrading of Jopa-Kopa Road) as it will ease movement of both timber and fruits from Chimanimani district to the market,” said Cde Sacco.
Acting Manicaland provincial development coordinator Mr Edgars Seenza also confirmed to The Herald yesterday that the Jopa-Kopa Road was set to be tarred.
President Mnangagwa’s administration is prioritising infrastructural development as a catalyst to economic development.
In July, President Mnangagwa officially opened the US$20 million rehabilitated Tanganda-Ngundu highway linking Masvingo and Manicaland provinces and vowed to attend to other roads across the country to spur economic activity.
Online Reporter