MBUDZI INTERCHANGE NOW 43% COMPLETE

Tanaka Mahanya

THE Mbudzi interchange in Harare is now 43 percent complete.

It is expected to open to traffic in six weeks’ time, according to Transport and Infrastructural Development permanent secretary, Theodius Chinyanga.

The project, which started last year, involves turning a major roundabout into an interchange to alleviate congestion in the area.

Compensating people, whose properties have been affected has slowed progress, but completion is expected by March 2024.

During a tour of the interchange yesterday, Chinyanga said they were impressed by the progress.

“The planned progress is 47 percent, and of course, there is that difference in progress that we should have achieved to date.

“Most of it is attributed to the small movement in compensating those whose properties we have impacted on, but we are doing the best we can, and the contractor has enough space to work on.

“Once we are done with compensation, we will catch up and will be back on track, but generally, we are happy,” he said.

“As we projected, on the left side from Masvingo, going into Glen Norah, we should be able to open to traffic in about six weeks’ time.”

Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution permanent secretary, Tafadzwa Muguti, said:

“We are well on track for our target of March 2024 and we are hoping that by the time the rainy season starts, we would have managed to cover more ground.

“Some of the bridges are already complete, and on average, some of the by-passes are around 30-45 percent complete, with some nearing 70 percent.”

Construction work at the roundabout started last year as it was a major choking point in Harare South before the Government committed resources to turn it into an interchange.