Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]
TRAVEL time between Harare and Victoria Falls is set to be reduced by nearly 200 kilometres as construction of the long-awaited Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road gathers momentum, with two contractors already on site working on the strategic highway linking Matabeleland North and Midlands provinces.
The road, being developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Government and local contractor Road Trekkers, is expected to transform regional connectivity, improve the movement of goods and people and unlock economic opportunities along the corridor.
Popularly known as the “Fighting Road” by communities in Lupane and surrounding areas because of decades-long calls for its construction, the highway is one of several major infrastructure projects underway in Matabeleland North.
In an interview, Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo said the project reflects the Second Republic’s commitment to modernising the country’s transport network.
“Once complete, the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road will give travellers leaving Kwekwe the option of reaching Victoria Falls without passing through Bulawayo, cutting the journey by close to 200 kilometres. This is a long-overdue strategic corridor that has been in the pipeline for years and has now become a reality under the leadership of President Mnangagwa,” he said.
Minister Moyo said the highway is among five major road projects either under construction or in the pipeline in Matabeleland North.
“The Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, Khami Prison access road and the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road are all progressing well. This demonstrates Government’s commitment to improving the road network and stimulating economic development across Matabeleland North Province,” he said.
The project is being implemented under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement, a model that allows private investors to finance, construct and operate infrastructure before transferring it to Government after an agreed period.
Besides the highway itself, the project will include supporting infrastructure such as toll plazas and weighbridges to improve road management, generate revenue and curb vehicle overloading.
The development is also expected to create employment opportunities while strengthening local engineering and technical expertise.
Minister Moyo said attention would soon shift to another critical route.
“The fifth major road project is the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road, which will commence once Government completes the tender process to identify capable contractors,” he said.
Minister Moyo said Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube had assured him that funding would be available for the project.
“Minister Ncube has assured my office that funds for the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road will be availed soon, with contractors expected to be on site by January next year. The road is critical to the province’s economy because it carries significant volumes of passenger and commercial traffic,” he said.
While Government finalises procurement processes, communities have launched their own initiative to rehabilitate the deteriorating Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road.
Locals, supported by members of the Tsholotsho diaspora, have embarked on a campaign to raise 36 000 litres of diesel to support rehabilitation works.
The initiative has received backing from Government departments, Tsholotsho and Umguza rural district councils, which will provide road construction equipment, technical expertise and operational support. Traditional leaders have also endorsed the programme.
Organising committee chairperson and Botswana-based businessman Mr Cephas Tshuma recently said public response to the fundraising campaign had been encouraging.
“There is tremendous interest in this initiative. We are working closely with Government departments and our traditional leaders, and transparency will guide the entire process,” he said.
The rehabilitation programme will target a 90-kilometre stretch of the road through spot gravelling, shoulder grading and full grading of damaged sections.
Works will be undertaken simultaneously from the Bulawayo and Tsholotsho ends in 23-kilometre sections to speed up completion, with gravel stockpiled in advance to ensure uninterrupted operations.
