Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa
Mashonaland East Bureau
MAJOR progress has been recorded on the Nhekairo-Chigondo Road upgrade in Hwedza District as Government continues to prioritise infrastructure development countrywide.
Nhekairo-Chigondo Road connects Hwedza District in Mashonaland East Province with Buhera District in Manicaland Province, making it a vital artery for economic activities between the two districts.
The Government is also working on several other roads in the province, including the Hwedza-Sadza Road, Hwedza-Mushandirapamwe Road, Harare-Domboshava Road and Murehwa-Madacheche Road.
Plans are also at an advanced stage for works on the Harare-Nyamapanda Road.
Syvern Contracting is the contractor tasked with upgrading the Nhekairo-Chigondo road, while the Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) is working on the Hwedza-Sadza road.
Masimba Holdings is upgrading the Hwedza-Mushandirapamwe highway and ZADA Construction Private Limited is handling the Murehwa-Madacheche road.
Recently, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East, Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, toured some of these roads to assess progress.
“We are happy as Mashonaland East that our roads are being upgraded as we strive to achieve Vision 2030,” said Advocate Ndudzo.
“As you know, the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway is being upgraded and is almost complete. Of that road, about 120km passes through Mashonaland East Province and that stretch has been completed.
“Government is also upgrading the Hwedza-Sadza road, which connects Hwedza and Chikomba districts. About 12 kilometres are being worked on and we are optimistic that they will be opened to motorists this year.
“We are also happy as a province that there is significant progress on the Nhekairo-Chigondo road. The contractor has already opened a finished stretch to motorists and has started working on the remaining 5km, which I am told will be completed in July this year.”
Speaking on the Murehwa-Madacheche road, Advocate Ndudzo said the contractor is on site and notable progress has been made. He also confirmed that the Harare-Domboshava road is being worked on and will be completed soon.
“All these roads are being worked on, and soon they will be complete. We also have the Harare-Nyamapanda highway, where plans are now at an advanced stage for road works to commence.
“The road rehabilitation programme is in full swing in Mashonaland East Province, and we are thankful to President Mnangagwa for the roadworks,” he said.
Provincial road engineer in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Engineer Tatenda Pasipamire, provided further details on the projects.
“The Nhekairo-Chigondo project has a 12km stretch, whereby two kilometres have already been opened to traffic. The contractor has started working on a 5km stretch. All things being equal, we might complete this project this year. The contractor is on site and working.
“We are also working on the Hwedza-Sadza road, and the contractor has resumed work.
“Recently, we completed about 3.5km along the Hwedza-Mushandirapamwe highway, which has already been opened to traffic. Masimba Holdings is implementing the project, and they are now working on the next 11km, which may be completed this year.
“We are also working on other projects across the province to ensure roads are usable. We are currently working on the designs for the Marondera-Igava road, and upgrading works are set to start before mid-year.”
Engineer Pasipamire also mentioned the Nhakiwa-Manyika and Murehwa-Madacheche roads in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe District as some of the ongoing projects.
