Freeman Razemba in Matabeleland North
THE construction of the 240-kilometre Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane Highway, a strategic route expected to reduce travel distances, cut logistics costs and strengthen economic activities, is making significant progress, with more than 10km having been completed and opened to traffic.
The Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe road, currently under construction by Road Trackers Construction under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, is expected to reduce the distance from Harare to Victoria Falls by 170km.
Motorists will turn off from Kwekwe instead of passing through Bulawayo, cutting travel time. The project is scheduled for completion within five years.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Advocate Felix Mhona last Friday led a delegation on a tour of the road where he addressed the media on the developments.
The completed stretch, from Lupane towards Nkayi, so far has road markings as well as road signs.
Minister Mhona also outlined the advantages of using the road once it has been completed.
The new Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane route will also have two toll plazas.
During a recent media tour, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Engineer Joy Makumbe, also emphasised the Government’s commitment to quality, sustainable infrastructure and the importance of leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate national development.
The project is being implemented under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement, a model that allows private investors to finance, construct and operate infrastructure before transferring it.
Following the tour of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road Minister Mhona, accompanied by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland North, Richard Moyo, toured the newly completed 10-kilometre stretch of the Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane Road.
The two Ministers expressed satisfaction with the works completed so far, noting the importance of delivering durable infrastructure that meets the required standards and provides lasting benefits to communities.
Government is targeting the completion of an additional 10km stretch before the end of this year, which will subsequently be opened to traffic.
In an interview, Minister Mhona said they were working closely with Zinara, where they have introduced infrastructure bonds.
“The goodness of an infrastructure bond is, it will give leeway for you to mobilise resources from the market to fund infrastructure projects. In other jurisdictions, you tap into concessional facilities, whether it’s the World Bank or other lenders. But in our case, we cannot continue relying on the fiscus because there are also competing factors.
“So it means we have to make sure that our people get adequate stocks in terms of food. And at the same time, we want to build roads. So on that note, we have seen that the infrastructure bond will allow us to mobilise additional funding.
“And currently, we are working with CBZ and other banks, and we are also going offshore, where we are getting facilities across boundaries.
“And the goodness of this model is that we then have enough to do our roads. So there is no reason why contractors are going to leave the project that we have started and we have assured the contractors that we’ll continue paying,” he said.
On the construction of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, he said works had stalled a few months ago because of funding issues.
“But now that is water under the bridge, and we are moving. And the assurance is that next year we will be having cricket, World Cup cricket, especially in this country and in particular in this region. And we assure the people of Zimbabwe that, having started now, we must have completed the entire 440-kilometre stretch. The question would, therefore, come to say, how are you going to do it? You have seen that we have some sections that would require reconstruction.
“And it will take time. And most of the contractors would have done 50 percent of their sections, which is 51 kilometre sections.
“So we are happy that we are here. We will continue monitoring. The essence of the visit is to make sure that we also uphold issues of transparency and accountability, and issues of monitoring the real work that are happening,” he said.
Minister Mhona said the new Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe road will have a life span of 20 years with minimum routine maintenance.
“And this is also something that has to be given to the public in terms of information dissemination. So we are happy that we’ve started and will continue working as a team. It calls for the role of Government again, whereby resuscitating our maintenance units, rehabilitating our roads. We also know that this is a tourist hub. We are talking of the Mosi-oa-Tunya and the Victoria Falls. And we need to make sure that we enhance connectivity to such beautiful places.
“And I am happy that, given this kind of work ethic, we will continue running. And I’m sure I want to thank you. And also, as you then cascade the projects that are happening in your jurisdiction in Mat North, we would also be glad to report that work has started. And yes, we know the narrative on social media, but it’s also good for our people to report progress rather than to discourage one another. And especially for us, but we are here to rectify all those,” he said.
The minister said the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls was constructed around 1960 and its now 66 years that it is being constructed under the Second Republic.
