Andrew
Sharon Chimenya
Masvingo Bureau
LOCAL contractors undertaking construction of the Harare-Beitbridge Highway have proven that indigenous companies are capable of constructing roads that meet international standards, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has said.
Speaking during a tour of sections of the road being built by local companies in Masvingo, Prof Ncube expressed satisfaction with the quality of their work.
“I came by road from Harare so I was able to drive along the Harare-Masvingo Road and I am very pleased with the progress so far,” said Prof Ncube.
“I was able to fly and saw the new road and it is really impressive and of international standards. ISO standards are being followed and we are pleased.
“It is clear that this project, that the President instructed us as the Ministry of Finance to undertake, is really upgrading skills and creating jobs through using local materials and skills.
“We will in the future look at extending each contractor from 20 km that they are currently doing.”
He said Government was financing the project through domestic resources, proving that the country was able to deploy its resources strategically in order to facilitate development.
For two decades, refurbishment of the highway failed to take off as a number of foreign companies that were contracted to rehabilitate the road repeatedly failed to do so.
The Beitbridge stretch was contracted to five local companies — Tensor Systems, Masimba Construction, Fossil Contractors, Exodus Company and Bitumen World, with each company allocated at least 20km each per phase.
The road is being widened from the current seven metres to 12,5 metres.
Bitumen World project manager for the Bubi site, Mr Bigboy Sibindi, said the contractor had commenced work on the third 20km stretch of its section of the road.
“We are quite pleased with the progress that we have made so far, we completed the first phase by the middle of 2020 and completed the second phase by the beginning of this year,” said Mr Sibindi.
The Beitbridge-Harare road had become a death trap as it had exceeded its design life of 20 years by 40 years.
The road is being rehabilitated and upgraded in line with Southern Africa Transport and Communication Commissions (SATCC) standards.
Meanwhile, Prof Ncube said US$400 million had been set aside for the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme to be undertaken over a period of three years.
“For road rehabilitation we have set aside $20 billion this year alone,” he said.
“Over three years we have set aside US$400 million to cover our emergency road rehab agenda.
“Of course the biggest chunk of the budget will go towards Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu road but other roads have not been left behind that’s just the largest chunk.
“We are also excluding what can be sourced from the devolution budget.
“Districts can also take care of some of their roads.
“We are encouraging them to buy a grader each so they can take care of the roads and overtime they can add additional equipment.”
President Mnangagwa launched the programme in Mashonaland Central last week.
Online Reporter