Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has assured that progress is being made on the rehabilitation and widening of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, a critical trade and tourism artery linking Zimbabwe with Zambia, Namibia and Botswana, which is being upgraded under the ongoing national road rehabilitation and modernisation programme.
So far, more than 57,2 km of the road has been opened to traffic as the contractors are still on the ground, working tirelessly to complete the remaining 383,2km.
The 440-kilometre road is expected to be completed by the end of this year, and all eight contractors are on site.
All the contractors recently assured the Government that they will work tirelessly to ensure that they meet the deadline.
They are Bitumen World, which has so far completed and opened to traffic 20,9km; Masimba Holdings 10,3km, Fossil Contracting 6,2km; Bitumen Resources 5,4km; Syvern Investments 5,0km; Tensor Systems 5,0km; Lanish Construction 4,4km, while Asphalt Products is still working on some parts of the roads it was allocated to.
The Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road is a key strategic route linking the country to the tourism hub of Victoria Falls and regional markets, making its rehabilitation critical for economic growth.
In an interview, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development spokesperson Ms Judith Nhau said, “Contractors are primarily working on the main carriageway, which in many instances is not directly visible to road users while detours are in use.”
She said the project is being implemented in phases, with activity at any given time concentrated on specific sections of the road, and as a result, some stretches may appear inactive to motorists, while intensive work is underway elsewhere along the corridor.
Ms Nhau said that all contractors are actively engaged in their respective sections and that the project remains on schedule.
“We wish to assure the public that the project remains on course, and all contractors are actively engaged in their respective sections,” said Ms Nhau.
She said the Ministry was closely monitoring progress to ensure adherence to project timelines as well as the required quality standards.
“The Ministry continues to closely monitor progress to ensure that project timelines and quality standards are met. We appreciate the continued interest in our national infrastructure development programmes,” said Ms Nhau.
The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, a critical trade and tourism artery linking Zimbabwe with Zambia, Namibia and Botswana, is being upgraded under the Government’s ongoing national road rehabilitation and modernisation programme.
Peter Tanyanyiwa