Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has issued a stern warning to contractors, stating that all projects will be closely monitored to ensure quality delivery and those who fail to meet standards will be ordered to redo the works.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona delivered the warning while officially opening the rehabilitated 3,2km Mama Mafuyana Drive – formerly Lorraine Drive – to traffic, marking another milestone in Harare’s ongoing road modernisation programme.
The development comes as authorities intensify assessments of other roads across the capital requiring urgent rehabilitation.
Minister Mhona and Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Charles Tawengwa led a delegation to open the road, which was reconstructed by local firm Fossil Contracting.
The upgrading forms part of broader infrastructure improvements underway in Harare.
Residents and motorists have since hailed Government for ensuring the road has now been rehabilitated.
Minister Mhona acknowledged the road’s troubled history.
“Thank you to the Fourth Estate for coming and broadcasting what the Second Republic is doing. I am happy that finally Lorraine Drive has been opened to traffic.
“You know the history of this road – when we were attending to the SADC roads, it was one of the detour roads we were using.
“Unfortunately, heavy traffic was directed onto this street, which wasn’t designed to accommodate heavy trucks and it collapsed. This was a reasonable cause for the citizenry to question how the road was constructed.”
He added: “I am happy that we assured the citizenry that the contractor would redo the work and today we are witnessing this wonderful piece of work. But this also serves to answer the people of Zimbabwe: under the Second Republic, championed by His Excellency Cde Mnangagwa, we take issues of quality seriously. Whenever you do your work, if you don’t do it precisely, we mandate you to redo it.”
Minister Mhona revealed that numerous projects are underway countrywide, supervised by resident engineers to maintain standards.
“I am happy that today we are witnessing this modern road with walkways and bus stops, the ideal scenario going forward as a ministry.
“We are managing our roads under very difficult circumstances and this is a humble plea to the people of Zimbabwe, we will definitely get there.
“We are talking about a 90 000-kilometre stretch of road network in the country, and we are using our own resources, unlike other jurisdictions that rely on facilities from the World Bank or IMF,” he said.
The minister apologised to residents in and around Westgate for the inconvenience caused during construction and assured them that the detour roads used, while works were underway would also be attended to.
Minister Tawengwa applauded Government and the Ministry of Transport for ensuring that roads across the city are being attended to in line with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume pledged continued collaboration with Government to ensure that all roads still in poor condition are rehabilitated for the benefit of citizens and motorists.
