Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
TRANSPORT and Infrastructural Development Minister Advocate Felix Mhona yesterday engaged the contractor and engineers who have started constructing the new interchange at the intersection of Harare Drive and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Expressway (formerly Airport Road) in Harare.
This comes as the Government continues to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to providing modern, efficient and safe transport infrastructure.
Minister Mhona, accompanied by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engineer Joy Makumbe, and other senior Government officials, toured the site in Harare on Monday.
The contractor, Makomo Resources, has since started clearing the land to pave the way for the major works on site.
This vital project forms part of ongoing efforts to decongest one of Harare’s busiest corridors, improve travel times to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, and enhance road safety for all motorists.
In an interview, Minister Mhona said: “You have heard from the engineers, and in particular the consultant, that this is a long-awaited project that we have been talking about for years. I want to give thanks to our great leader, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, who has been championing infrastructure issues. You have seen that this kind of road will enhance connectivity, especially by connecting with Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
“And also connecting the missing link between the Braeside area and the great city. That is why we are excited as a ministry. We have been working on this particular project for years and trying to come up with a model that will also lessen the burden on the fiscus. Precisely, we have done that.”
He said they no longer have to wait for funding from the fiscus during budget allocation, adding that they had engaged the private sector to participate in the reconstruction of the roads.
“And I am happy that this is one scenario where we are having a loan facility, and we will have the chance to pay over a certain period of time, without stressing the fiscus. I am happy that you have heard we are not talking about just one interchange. Tentatively, we are talking about US$250 million—not only for this particular interchange, but for the entire project. At the end of the day, there will also be diversion routes.
“We are not only addressing this major road, but the neighbouring communities also need trafficable roads. So what we will then do is to resuscitate the state and status of those roads, soon after this project. But I am happy about the connectivity element: we are talking about corridors—the North-South corridor, the Beira Corridor—where we will be connecting again to the Delport-Mabvuku area, which is part of the Beira Corridor. We will also be connecting again to the Trabablas, which is also the North-South corridor. The essence of this is to ensure we enhance trafficability and enhance connectivity,” he said.
Cde Minister, can you please emphasize on quality of these roads. Driving to Masvingo the other day, on a hot sunny day, I noticed quite a number of patches on that road that are already showing signs of wear and tear. I am sure the surface material is not suitable for use by so many heavy trucks. Comparing the new Beit Bridge-Harare highway to the N1 on the other side of the Limpopo, it shows the difference in road surface quality. N1 is a lot older than the BB-Harare road but on just visual look, the BB-Harare road looks twice as old.