Moffat Mungazi
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
LEENGATE Private Limited (Pvt) Ltd — the contractor appointed to construct the Christmas Pass By-Pass Road — is undertaking an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to identify, assess, and address environmental and social consequences of the project during the construction cycle.
The ESIA study is being conducted by ELWAS (Pvt) Ltd, a registered local environmental consultancy.
The development of the 31,2 kilometre route will be implemented through a partnership between Government and Leengate Private Limited — having been necessitated by relentless accidents involving heavily laden haulage trucks on the Christmas Pass curves.
The Christmas Pass has become a death-trap as haulage trucks carrying heavy loads often struggle to descend the steep slopes, with brake failure and jack-knives a common occurrence.
Barely a week passes without an accident being recorded on the Christmas Pass.
The by-pass road, which will pass through Feruka on the outskirts of Mutare Central Business District (CBD), was proposed in 1992 for use by haulage trucks.
Most trucks passing through Mutare using the Beira Corridor will be destined for Mozambique, the Port of Beira, as well as Zambia, Malawi and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cabinet has approved the construction of the by-pass road, which will also cover the revamping of the problematic Sakubva (Murahwa) People’s Green Market Bridge, with the project expected to stretch for 12 months.
The ongoing ESIA study is part of essential pre-commencement works — preliminary activities undertaken before the actual construction begins — to ensure smooth and successful execution of the project.
The pre-commencement works include stakeholder engagement and community outreach programmes, site clearance, removal of obstacles, environmental mitigation measures, geotechnical investigations, surveying, and mapping to gather critical data about the project site, relocating utilities, and obtaining necessary permits and approvals — which lay the groundwork for the subsequent construction phases, enabling contractor to commence work on the road project with minimal delays and disruptions.
A public notice of the ESIA for the Christmas Pass By-Pass Road was flighted in the Press last Thursday (April 17), giving stakeholders until April 30, 2025 to make submissions.
“Leengate Private Limited (Pvt) Ltd is undertaking an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed 31.2 km Christmas Pass By-Pass Road in Mutare. This key infrastructure project is designed to enhance road safety and improve the efficiency of the transportation network in the city. The by-pass road will primarily serve to redirect heavy haulage traffic away from the accident-prone Christmas Pass. The proposed route extends from the Feruka-Grand Reef Turn-Off to the Forbes Border Post.
“In full compliance with the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) and the and Ecosystems Protection Regulations, Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007, Leengate Private Limited has engaged ELWAS (Pvt) Ltd, a registered local environmental consultancy, to carry out the ESIA study. As part of the public consultation process, all interested and affected parties are invited to submit their comments, views, or concerns regarding the proposed project. Submissions should be made on or before 30 April 2025,’” reads part of the notice.
Leengate (Pvt) Ltd director, Mr Commence Chivanga refused to discuss the latest development, citing restrictive communication protocols.
“It is true we have engaged ELWAS (Pvt) Ltd, a registered local environmental consultancy, to carry out the ESIA study, but I cannot say much since this is a Government project, and we are merely contractors. What we are doing are pre-commencement works, and for detailed information, you need to engage the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. There are communication protocols that must be observed, and pending the ground breaking ceremony, only the ministry can comment,” said Mr Chivanga.
Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer, Raphael Sugauke said from the Government side, the technical aspects were done, agreed on and approved.
“The project preparation phase has been completed. This means from the ministry side, everything has been completed. We are now waiting on treasury (Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion) to review and sign the term sheet (financials),” he said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said the project will commence immediately after the completion of the ESIA and financial approvals by the treasury.
The ESIA engagement facilitates the minimisation of negative impacts and maximisation of positive benefits, thereby promoting sustainable development. It helps identify potential environmental impacts, including habitat loss, pollution, and soil erosion, as well as social impacts such as displacement, land acquisition, and disruption of livelihoods.
The ESIA report, which will be submitted to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) for certification, also helps to determine the nature, severity, and duration of potential impacts, informing the scale of mitigation measures required, development of strategies and measures to reduce or eliminate negative impacts and enhance positive ones.
Such measures may include employing sustainable construction techniques, implementing pollution controls, and developing community engagement and compensation programmes.
The ESIA report will also ensure that the project complies with relevant environmental and social regulations and standards, while providing invaluable information to decision-makers to assess the project’s overall feasibility and make informed decisions regarding its implementation.
It also facilitates transparent communication and addressing of the project’s social and environmental impacts, ensuring that stakeholders are well-informed throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Online Reporter