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Victor Maphosa Correspondent
GOVERNMENT, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA), has availed $11 million for the rehabilitation of the Madacheche Road which connects Mashonaland East and Central provinces.
Madacheche Road is the shortest route connecting the two provinces.
Maramba-Pfungwe National House of Assembly member Cde Tichaona Karumazondo, who recently checked on the progress made so far, commended the new dispensation for prioritising development in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe District.
“We welcome the decision by our Government to avail funds for the tarring of this road, as you can see, work has already begun in earnest. Indeed, the new dispensation has people at heart,” he said.
Cde Karumazondo said Government was fulfilling its promises to the people and urged everyone to participate in developing the nation.
He said his constituency was fully behind the Zimbabwe is Open For Business mantra and commended the Government for availing funds for the rehabilitation and tarring of the road, saying the road would expedite trade and movement of people between the two provinces.
“Good roads stimulates development. They are good for business and as a district, and particularly Maramba-Pfungwe Constituency, we do not want to be left behind when it comes to being open for business, but without usable roads we cannot achieve development.
“At one point we experienced a serious exodus of teachers from this constituency because it was a nightmare for them to travel to their schools. In fact services hardly come our way due to the condition of our roads,” he said.
He said public transport operators had been taking advantage of the situation to charge exorbitant fares since there was no competition in the area.
Cde Karumazondo said Government should also construct a bridge at Nyatana River, which he said is impassable during rainy seasons.
“There is the issue of Nyatana Bridge, many people are swept away on that bridge whenever we receive heavy rains,
“I witnessed a child being swept away a few years back on this bridge and ever since I have been advocating for the construction of a higher bridge to avoid further loss of life.
“For example, my constituency was affected by a hailstorm recently and many families were left homeless. It became difficult to bring aid here because Nyatanga River was flooded,” he said.
In an interview with The Herald after tour of the road, Mashonaland East Provincial Road Engineer Mr Enerst Shenje said tarring of the road will commence soon after re-gravelling.
“We had received the money to tar the Madacheche Road, our people are on the ground doing all the required road works before we tar it.
“We expect to cover at least 7km by the end of August because there is a lot of work to be done before we start tarring the road.
Eng Shenje said his team would also reconstruct the Nyatana Bridge which he said was hindering the delivery of essentials to the other side of Maramba-Pfungwe.
Online Reporter