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MBUDZI Roundabout will be closed from Sunday, for more than 12 months, to pave way for intensified construction at the new traffic interchange.
Speaking during a tour of the traffic interchange in Harare yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said congestion will be reduced at the traffic intersection, once the construction of the traffic interchange is completed.
“The Mbudzi Roundabout has been characterised by high traffic volumes, which resulted in congestion and schedule delays,” he said.
“Therefore, the roundabout will be closed on 18th of September to pave way for the construction of a new traffic interchange.
“Construction of the detours has been completed and most of the alternative roads are already tarred, which not only gives comfort for motorists in this interim period, but also enhances safety for all road users during this period.”
Minister Mhona urged motorists to use alternative routes.
“I wish to appeal to Zimbabweans that for this period that construction work is in progress at the roundabout, let us all use alternative routes, or detours as may be applicable,” he said.
“As Government we fully appreciate the inconvenience the temporary closure of this roundabout will cause, but this is part of the small sacrifices we all have to make as we pull together towards Vision 2030.” Minister Mhona lamented the number of people who die due to road traffic accidents each year in the country.
“In Zimbabwe, the average number of crashes per year between 2010 and 2021 was 40 180, while the average number of people dying as a result of road crashes was 1 858 per year,” he said.
“Put differently, five people die every day on the roads in Zimbabwe and this translates to 153 persons killed per month.
“We hope that as we march towards Vision 2030, we will be able to reduce the number of road traffic accidents that are happening on our roads.”
The minister said they sought to reduce road crashes and fatalities by 50 percent per annum.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter