adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
The City of Gweru is looking for private public partnerships (PPP’s) for the construction of new long distance bus terminus as the city plans to decommission Kudzanayi Bus Terminus, which is in the central business district. The local authority’s public relations officer Mr Manford Gambiza in an interview yesterday said council sold Gweru’s iconic Kudzanayi Long Distance Bus Terminus for $120 million to Polipena Investments Pvt Ltd in 2004.
He said it was, therefore, paramount that they start working on a new bus terminus so that they decommission Kudzanayi Bus Terminus.
“We are currently looking for private public partnerships for the construction of a new state-of-the-art bus terminus outside the CBD following the sale of Kudzanayi Long Distance Bus Terminus for $120 million to Polipena Investments Pvt Ltd in 2004.
While we haven’t been pressured to close the bus terminus in the CBD, we are planning ahead by looking for PPPS for a new terminus in Mtapa before the new land owner move on site,” said Mr Gambiza.
He said they hoped that the investors will transform the 1,8 hectare piece of land into a state-of-the-art shopping mall.
“So we will then have the new shopping mall in the CBD and a new bus terminus in Mtapa. These are going to be two major infrastructures which we hope will also bring more investments to the City of Progress as Gweru is affectionately known,” said Mr Gambiza.
He said Gweru City Council and Polipena Investments were currently busy putting their houses in order.
“As soon as we put our houses in order, it will be all systems go,” said Mr Gambiza.
A new terminus for Gweru long distance buses was initially sited in Mtapa and preliminary works were done, only to be abandoned mid-way due to financial constraints.
Online Reporter