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Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
Over 800 local people in Mbire District have benefited from employment in the construction of the Mahuwe-Kanyemba Road and the oil and gas project as the Second Republic takes rural industrialisation and development overdrive.
The Mahuhwe-Kanyemba road which passes through the first site for the oil and gas project Mukuyu-1, is critical to the development of the Kanyemba area which the Government envisages as a new tourist resort town.
The Mahuhwe-Kanyemba Road will also enhance trade between Mozambique and Zambia.
Once complete the Harare-Mahuhwe-Kanyemba Road will become an alternative route into central Africa apart from Chirundu, cutting the distance to Lusaka short by 400km.
Right now only 15km is left to reach Mushumbi Pools business centre.
Currently the workforce stands at 400 local people, a number which fluctuates up to 800 depending on demand.
The contractor, Exodus and Company, is onsite working on a 10km stretch at a time.
The community which used to wake up at wee hours of the morning to catch early buses due transport woes, is now enjoying an influx of public transport plying this route.
The Mahuhwe-Kanyemba Road is passing through Mukuyu 1 oil and gas exploration site by Invictus Energy.
The District Development Coordinator Mr Richard Maruta said massive developments happening in Mbire has transformed the district from a barter and trade community.
“Service delivery by the local authority has improved because most of the roads along that route are now accessible. People no longer wake up in the wee hours of the day to look for transport because we are recording an increase in public transport,” he said.
“We have communities doing community gardens, they now have cheaper transport to take their produce to places like Harare.”
Mr Maruta said communities are happy that the contractor is active on the ground.
He said they are witnessing rural development which has spruced the livelihoods of people in Mbire.
“We are witnessing a change in the lifestyle of people with better and modern houses being built. This road is adding value to infrastructure in the district,” he said.
“People in Mbire are aware that the President promised title deeds to home owners. This is another incentive for them to build better houses which can be evaluated.
“Mbire is also home to one of the largest oil and gas project which has also employed about 23 local people due to the technical aspects of the project.”
Mbire is now moving away from pole and dagga houses due to the Second Republic’s rural development agenda.
More and more children have started going to schools as the once marginalised community join the train to Vision 2030.
“We are grateful to the Second Republic for implementing the Problem Animal Control Act which favoured people in Mbire who were at risk of human-wildlife conflict,” he said.
“Families will be getting compensation and this is a positive development. Marauding elephants have destroyed crops and human life.”
The provincial roads engineer, Engineer Joseph Makokove said he is happy with the progress along the 354km Harare-Kanyemba which is now left with 140 to reach Kanyemba.
Another flagship road construction project is the Karanda Road which is almost complete and is anticipated to be commissioned in August.
He said the Mahuhwe-Kanyemba Road project is moving and although he is impressed, he wants more speed.
“The contractor has opened 20 kilometres which are at various stages of construction and soon they will reach Mushumbi. Karanda Road has 7km open to traffic but the road which is being constructed from both ends will be joined soon,” he said.
The full stretch must be complete and opened in August, he added.
Karanda bridge brought relief to people in the surrounding community and the country at large who used long alternative routes to access Karanda Mission Hospital.
Situated in Mt Darwin district, Karanda hospital which is run by the Evangelical Church offers exceptional health care services across the country and the region.
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