Online Reporter
Zwane Enterprises Private Limited which is upgrading the 120km Old Gwanda Road, has engaged eight local companies to assist it to undertake the work. Government and Zwane Enterprises Pvt Ltd signed the long-awaited concession agreement in January this year.
Cabinet approved the construction of the road in May last year but work could not start before the signing of the concession agreement. Zwane Enterprises chief executive officer, Eng Bekithemba Mbambo said President Mnangagwa is expected to lead the project’s groundbreaking ceremony mid this month.
Eng Mbambo said soon after the groundbreaking ceremony, the massive work to upgrade the road will then start. A total of 42 homesteads will be relocated to pave way for the upgrading of the road estimated to cost $150 million and is being implemented under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement.
Eng Mbambo said each of the local companies has been allocated 20km and the target is to complete most of the work this year.
“We have been given 18 months to complete this project and we are confident the companies we have engaged will meet the target,” said Engineer Mbambo.
He said his company was taking a leaf from Government which engaged six companies to reconstruct the Harare-Beitbridge Highway. The six companies reconstructing the 585km highway have proved beyond doubt that they have the capacity to undertake work of such magnitude. Government, fed up by the long wait for international contractors to undertake the reconstruction of the Harare-Beitbridge Highway, decided to engage local companies and work is now nearing completion.
We therefore have no reason to doubt that the local companies engaged by Zwane Enterprises Pvt Ltd will be equal to the task. The Old Gwanda Road upgrading project involves upgrading, construction and tolling of the 120km stretch joining Bulawayo City and Gwanda Town via Matobo. The road which passes through Matopo High School is in a very bad state hence Eng Mbambo approached Government seeking its approval for his company to upgrade the road under BOT. Zwane Enterprises Pvt Ltd will recoup its costs from the tolling fees.
Eng Mbambo is among Zimbabwean professionals that have gained valuable experience working in the diaspora and has returned home to help build the country. Government has appealed to Zimbabwean professionals working in the diaspora to return home and contribute to the building of the Zimbabwe we all want. Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo / Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo).
We want to commend Eng Mambo and other Zimbabwean professionals that have returned home to contribute to the development of their country.
It is our hope that more companies will come on board and invest in infrastructural development like what Zwane Enterprises Pvt Ltd is doing.
