Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter
THE contract for the rehabilitation of Old Esigodini Road has been won by Bitumen World Construction Company in Bulawayo as more roads undergo rehabilitation countrywide.
The construction firm will soon start the works.
In a statement, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development confirmed the developments.
“We are pleased to announce the successful site handover of the Old Esigodini Road to Bitumen World Construction Company. This project involves the full rehabilitation of Old Esigodini Road, a crucial infrastructure upgrade that will enhance connectivity, improve road safety, and boost economic activity in the region.
“We value your patience and support as we work towards a better, more connected nation with an improved road network infrastructure,” reads the statement.
This comes after Government has continued to make progress in major road rehabilitation projects countrywide while early works on the upgrade of Forbes Border Post Upgrade have commenced, marking the first phase of a major infrastructure development project aimed at easing congestion and transforming the busy crossing point into a modern trade facilitation hub.
The project, which follows the signing of an agreement between Zimbabwe and the Forbes Border Consortium on January 28, marks a significant step in Government’s ongoing drive to modernise the country’s border and road infrastructure along the North-South Corridor.
In a statement, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development confirmed that road rehabilitation, upgrading of border posts and construction of bridges was continuing countrywide.
On road rehabilitation, surfacing is underway on the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road while the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road rehabilitation is taking shape and construction is in progress on the 80km stretch from Bulawayo Metropolitan.
Progress is being made on the Makoni-Nyabadza Road construction with priming currently underway while the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway upgrade continues, with a new 5km stretch from Clipsham Park to Nyanda Lodge completed and now open to traffic.
Construction of a trumpet interchange (a ‘flyover’) is underway in Masvingo Urban, near Masvingo Polytechnic College. This grade-separation will allow traffic on the By-Pass heading to Beitbridge to flow smoothly over the road that leads into the Masvingo CBD, reducing congestion and improving travel times for everyone by not mixing national and local traffic.
“Construction is in progress on the Mucheke River Bridges, locally known as “Chimusana,” as part of the Masvingo Urban By-Pass project. We are building two river bridges to streamline traffic. The new Mucheke Bridge will carry northbound traffic, whilst the existing bridge will be dedicated to nouthbound traffic,” said the ministry.
The rehabilitation of the Mutare-Masvingo Road is also progressing well with the application of asphalt concrete almost complete.
According to the ministry, early works have also commenced at the Forbes Border Post in Manicaland.
“Bush clearing is ongoing for the new offsite parking and clearing facilities. This project will go a long way in decongesting the border and eliminating long queues,” said the ministry.
Recently, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Joy Makumbe, said preparatory works were already underway to pave the way for full-scale construction.
“The early works programme is being undertaken to establish and prepare the site for the full construction phase. This includes setting up essential temporary facilities, securing the site, carrying out surveys and investigations, undertaking initial earthworks and drainage and completing other preparatory works necessary to enable the main project to proceed smoothly.”
Eng Makumbe said once completed, the prepared site will also be used as a temporary truck staging area, providing immediate relief from congestion at the Forbes Border Post ahead of the main construction phase.
The border post, which links Zimbabwe and Mozambique, has long been plagued by congestion, with haulage trucks sometimes enduring delays stretching several days.
Authorities believe the upgrade will drastically cut waiting times and improve efficiency in the movement of goods and people.
Government is advancing the Forbes Border Post upgrade concurrently with the Chirundu One-Stop-Border Post modernisation, building on the success of the Beitbridge Border Post transformation, which has already set a benchmark for regional border efficiency.
Eng Makumbe said these efforts reinforce Zimbabwe’s position as the preferred route connecting the region to international markets, underpinning the country’s role as a strategic transit hub.
