adminVictor Maphosa
Mash East Bureau
Ordinary residents and businesspeople in Chivhu have praised the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa for the upgrading of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, where 421km have been completed and now opened to traffic.
Rehabilitation of this major highway is one of the biggest infrastructure development projects being implemented by President Mnangagwa’s administration.
Other key works underway include the expansion of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and construction of 12 high impact dams in the provinces to boost food security.
One of the signature infrastructural development projects that has already been completed and commissioned by the President include the Beitbridge Border Post, resulting in a marked decline in the number of hours that people take before being processed.
Communities are happy that the roads works being down are vastly improving infrastructure in their areas, a development that upgrades their living standards and even the value of their properties.
In Chivhu, Fossil Contracting, which is one of the five contractors engaged to develop the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway, has been tasked with constructing a traffic circle, commonly referred to as a roundabout, as the road enters the town’s central business district from Harare.
A by-pass has also been created, allowing motorists to drive past Chivhu town without driving through the central business district.
When The Herald arrived at the site recently, Fossil Contracting workers were busy working to ensure they produce a quality product.
Chivhu residents told The Herald that they were excited about such developments, adding that good roads will bring more investors to their town.
Mr Tafadzwa Mwali, a youth from Chivhu said: “Our road is now usable and the upgrade will reduce road traffic accidents, of course, if motorists religiously adhere to road regulations. “Good roads spur development, and I am realising that Chivhu, since it is along the upgraded road, will witness a massive development through investments.
“All this is because we have a hard working Government committed to improve the livelihoods of the people and I want to thank President Mnangagwa for this. I never thought we would see this road being upgraded in a beautiful way as we are witnessing now.”
Mr Sheunopa Macharaga, also from Chivhu, said the town will never be the same again.
“We are excited as residents and users of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway. Honestly, we have lost a lot of people in this road due to its previous bad state.
“However, as you can now see, the road has been widened, it is smooth and motorists and commuters’ safety has been improved. We only saw this upgrade when President Mnangagwa came to power, and we are happy that he is fulfilling his promises to us.
“I now appeal to drivers to exercise extreme caution because some of them are taking advantage of this freshly upgraded road to speed. Speed thrills but kills, so drivers should not put the lives of other people in danger,” said Mr Macharaga.
A woman who preferred to be called only as Mrs Mwale, thanked authorities for the road development.
Chikomba Rural District Council chairman Mr Israel Dhikinya thanked the Government for upgrading the highway.
Online Reporter