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George Maponga in Masvingo
The Second Republic has been lauded by Masvingo residents for investing in the rehabilitation of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway which has seen contractors under the game-changing project dualising 10km stretches before entry into the ancient city and another 10 km out.
Rehabilitation of the 580km highway is now almost complete with around 70km pending along arguably Zimbabwe’s busiest road that links the country to South Africa which is the country’s largest trading partner, South Africa.
The Government agreed with contractors for 10km stretches before entry into a major city and another 10km out to be upgraded into dual carriageways as part of the modernisation drive as Zimbabwe eyes to become an upper middle income society by 2030.
In Masvingo City, one of the contractors, Masimba Construction, has since completed dualising the two 10kms stretches into the city and out after successfully finishing the stretch from the Mangwandi area just after Gokomere Mission into the ancient city and also another 10km stretch out from Flamboyant Hotel to Klipsham Views along the highway to Beitbridge. These sections have already been opened to traffic for the convenience of motorists.
Masvingo residents said President Mnangagwa deserved commendation for modernising the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway using local expertise and resources.
They said execution of the project using local resources and skills showed that President Mnangagwa was a visionary leader with the highway now upgraded to world-class standards.
Mr Joseph Chindanya of Runyararo West suburb said he was very happy with the highway upgrade project saying the project was a master stroke to end carnage and enable faster movement of goods and humans.
‘’We are very happy with the work that has taken place along the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway especially considering that local resources and skills were mobilised to undertake this project. The road is now wider and very convenient to use so we are now very happy. We pray that the outstanding sections of the highway be completed so that heavy trucks stop passing through the city centre to ease the current ongoing congestion especially during peak hours,’’he said.
A city mechanic Mr Itai Hwenjere from Mucheke suburb said President Mnangagwa was a pragmatic leader who walked the talk on infrastructural development.
‘’President Mnangagwa is a visionary and walks the talk on development, we are very happy with the new state of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway. The President is indeed a game changer and must be applauded because now it no longer takes time for one to travel to and from Harare because the road is now of world class standards. Previously we used to take 5hours to travel from Masvingo to Harare now it only takes around 2 and half hours,’’said Mr Hwenjere.
Ms Yvonne Tagwirei of Rujeko suburb also weighed in praising the President and the Second Republic for fixing the problem of carnage that was rife along the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway.
‘’Previously it was indeed a nightmare to use the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge and many people lost their lives in road traffic accidents along the highway which used to be just a narrow stretch that could barely accommodate the high volume of traffic. It was hell to use this highway especially at night but now thanks to President Mnangagwa these problems are now a thing of the past, the President is indeed a game changer,’’she said.
According to a student, Tafadzwa Runganga of Rhodene suburb, President Mnangagwa had proved beyond any doubt that he was committed to changing lives of ordinary people through committing resources in the development of infrastructure especially roads.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Ezra Chadzamira said Masvingo will never be the same again with the modernisation of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway which is now of world class standards meaning both land cargo and human traffic moves faster meaning increased efficiency and ease of doing business.
Minister Chadzamira said using local companies to upgrade the highway was the mark of a visionary leader adding that the project will forever remembered as a signature venture undertaken by President Mnangagwa as he walks the talk on transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy by 2030.
‘’The Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway remains the jewel on the crown because this road is very important for Masvingo in the sphere of trade and commerce. We are also no longer witnessing the carnage that was caused by the poor state of the highway coupled with high traffic volume. This is a game-changer project for Masvingo and President Mnangagwa should be applauded for this project,’’said Minister Chadzamira.
Under the ongoing highway project, Government will also build another bridge across Mucheke River downstream of the existing one as part of efforts to ease congestion in and out of the city. Another modern all weather bridge is also set to be erected at Chimusana creating another route into and out of the city especially for traffic from the western parts of the city.
In 2018,the Second Republic cancelled a tender to modernise the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway that had been awarded to Austrian firm, Geiger International and awarded it to five local companies namely Masimba, Exodus and Company, Fossil Contracting, Butimen World and Tensor and the project is now almost reaching the home stretch.
Online Reporter