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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE long awaited tarring of the gravel road linking Murambinda Growth Point and Birchenough Bridge is set to begin early next year as Government moves ahead with roads rehabilitation across the country, Transport and Infrastructure Development Deputy Minister Mike Madiro has said.
The 131km Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Link Road has for years been giving motorists nightmares, especially during rainy seasons.
Travellers along the road have also not been spared from exorbitant fares, given the few transport operators plying the route.
The road, when complete, will provide the shortest link from Harare to Birchenough Bridge via Buhera.
It will also give heavy haulage trucks that weigh above the restricted mass at Birchenough Bridge another option.
Only last year, torrential rains that were received across the country left parts of Buhera South cut off as bridges were swept away, while the road was badly damaged.
President Mnangagwa pledged to have the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Road tarred in the near future when he officiated at the official opening of Marovanyati Dam near Murambinda Growth Point last year.
To that end, Deputy Minister Madiro said tarring the road is a fulfilment of President Mnangagwa’s pledge.
“When we gathered for the official opening of Marovanyati Dam, the President promised that the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Road will be tarred soon.
“I am sure many have been wondering how soon is soon. Allow me to announce to you that the project will take off early next year in January. We will see the first 40km of the road being tarred. An allocation of resources for that project has already been done, and come January we will see work commencing,” said the deputy minister during a tour of the road last week on Friday.
Member of National Assembly for Buhera South, Honourable Joseph Chinotimba said people in his constituency are anxiously waiting for the project to take off.
“We are anxiously waiting for the commencement of this important national project. Currently this road is in a very bad state and hardly trafficable.
“We are confident that President Mnangagwa’s Government will fulfil the pledge to tar the road.
“Gullies in the middle of the road as well as a bumpy surface have left villagers in my constituency bearing the burden of paying high transport costs to the few operators plying the route.
‘‘It has also curtailed development initiatives in my constituency,” said Cde Chinotimba.
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