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. . . as Mhandamabwe-Chivi highway gets new lease of life
From George Maponga in Masvingo
Government has embarked on a $26 million rehabilitation of the Mhandamabwe-Chibi highway in a development that is expected to curb runaway road traffic accidents that were now common feature because of the state of disrepair.
The highway is also the lifeblood of commerce in the drought-prone northern Chivi and its poor state was now affecting business activity in the area as it curtailed speedy movement of goods and people.
Rehabilitation of the 47-kilometre stretch of the highway is being done through funding from Government through the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara).
The upgrade project is being done by Bitumen Construction and the firm has already moved heavy-duty equipment on-site.
Chivi Rural District Council chair Councillor Godfrey Mukungunugwa hailed Government for finally rehabilitating the Chibi Turn-off-Mhandamabwe road.
Councillor Mukungunugwa said the road was a lifeline for villagers and the business community in Chivi North, adding its upgrade would breathe new life into the area’s economy.
“We are excited that Government finally heeded our call for the Mhandamabwe-Chibi road to be repaired. We are more than happy because it is our hope that rehabilitation of the road will reduce the number of accidents that had become a cause for serious concern. Hardly a week passed without a fatal accident occurring partly because the road was now in very bad shape.
“Government is now rehabilitating the road with funding from Zinara and the project has since been handed over to council,” said Cllr Mukungunugwa.
“After the project, it will be faster to move goods to and from the area and also take a shorter time for people to move from Point A to Point B. Most importantly, our youths will get employment because we have already struck an agreement with the contractor to employ locals as contract workers under the project. This is a real welcome development for Chivi North and we are grateful to Government and President Mnangagwa for remembering us.”
Cllr Mukungunugwa said as a bonus his council had also struck a deal with Bitumen Construction for the firm to use its presence in Chivi to rehabilitate smaller bridges and dams adjacent the course of its project.
“We agreed that as the contractor rehabilitates the highway, they should also use the opportunity to repair smaller roads adjacent the main highway and even scoop sand from adjacent dams as part of helping the Chivi North community. They heard our plight and we are happy.”
The Chivi RDC chair said the Mhandamabwe-Chibi highway was central to socio-economic development of communities in Chivi North.
President Mnangagwa recently designated Chibi turn-off as a business centre in a development that saw the incorporation of adjacent communal land into the new business centre.
The development has already started bearing fruit with plans afoot to develop modern residential housing schemes and shopping malls.
Chibi Turn-off has vast potential for growth owing to its proximity to Tugwi-Mukosi Dam, which in the near future is expected to become the heartbeat for economic development buoyed by investment inflows which are expected to spill over to business centres in the proximity like Chibi Turn-off, Maringire Business Centre and Ngundu Growth Point.
Online Reporter