Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
The reconstruction of the economically critical 435km Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, expected to be completed within ten months, will create over 2,000 jobs, the Government has announced. A majority of the workforce will be drawn from local communities along the route.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry spokesperson Ms Judith Nhau confirmed that five reputable contractors – Fossil Contracting, Masimba Contracting, Syvern Investments, Bitumen Resources and Tensor Systems – have mobilised to site and commenced work.
In a progress update last week, the Ministry reported that Fossil Contracting (Lot 1) has cleared a 4km detour from the 48.6km peg, Masimba Construction (Lot 2) has cleared 5km between the 85km-90km pegs, while Syvern Investment (Lot 3) has cleared 5km from 99.6km-104km with more work underway.
Bitumen Resources (Lot 4) has cleared 4.2km from 201.6km toward 191km and Tensor Systems (Lot 5) has cleared 5km between 201.6km-211.6km pegs.
“This strategic infrastructure project is expected to create over 2,000 jobs and significantly improve regional connectivity, benefiting tourism and cross-border trade,” said Ms Nhau.
She confirmed contractors are operating under strict conditions including a 10-month completion timeline, compliance with SADC road design standards, local employment and procurement requirements, and environmental compliance monitored by the Environmental Management Agency.
Each contractor has been allocated a 50km section, with the first stretch beginning at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo statue in Bulawayo’s city centre.
