Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s former classmates from the 1975 University of Zambia Law degree class have hailed Government for constructing the Trabablas Interchange using internally-generated funds.
They were accompanied by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Zambia Charity Charamba and senior Government officials.
The group first toured the Museum of African Liberation and the National Heroes Acre before proceeding to the Trabablas Interchange which was commissioned by President Mnangagwa last Friday.
This massive project, located at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza and High Glen roads, is a key infrastructure development aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in southern Harare.
It features 15 bridges.
The interchange is expected to significantly improve traffic flow, reduce transit times and minimise accidents in the area. It was being funded through local financial institutions and executed by a joint venture of three local construction companies: Tensor Systems, Fossil Contracting and Masimba Construction, operating under the banner of Tefoma Construction.
In an interview after the tour, Mr Bonaventure Mutale, who is a State Counsel in Zambia said: “ Over the past two days, after our celebrations at the State House, we were taken to the Museum for Liberation and also the interchange. Our visit to the museum was quite something that I have not experienced. What is developing there is phenomenal I have not seen in Africa, I am well-travelled, a museum that seems to have that sort of foresight.
“I think that project is really going to be a leading project in the whole of Africa. I hope most African countries whose flags adorn the place will join on board. It is certainly a significant contribution to African liberation movements that President Mnangagwa’s Government is doing.
“All we can do is to encourage them to ensure that the history of the liberation struggles of Africa is well-documented. I can clearly see that this institution has the capacity and will achieve that intended objective,” he said.
Commenting on the interchange, Mr Mutale said it was a mammoth project.
“As regards to the second project that we visited, the interchange is quite a mammoth project. I was quite surprised that a project of that size could be undertaken so quietly because I have not heard of it. I am fairly well-read, I follow projects, but I was pleasantly taken by surprise that just outside Harare you could have such a huge programme that seems to really change the face of how the economics of this country will be run.
“What was equally impressive was the fact that the funding seemed to have been internally generated. To me that was the first question I asked that engineer, how the project was being funded. I thought the Government should have approached maybe one of the funders, the IMF or some European institutions or Chinese banks which are very generous, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is quite some independence here,” he said.
He said the Government of Zimbabwe had generated the income to fund that project internally which was quite impressive.
“So to that extent I think it’s a project that should stand out for the whole of Africa. Not only because of the size, but the way the country has been able to internally generate income to fund it. That is what I thought was quite impressive about it,” Mr Mutale.
On the National Heroes’ Acre, he said he was not aware that Zimbabwe was honouring all the people who sacrificed their lives at the cruel hands of the colonialists.
“Although it was established a long time ago, 1980, I understand. I am literally speechless.
“I didn’t know that this is how this country is honouring all those people who sacrificed their lives at the cruel hands of the colonialists. It’s a very impressive way of honouring the people who contributed significantly to the liberation of this country.
“I don’t think, apart from countries like China and those countries that have gone through serious liberations, I don’t think I have seen a project like that in Africa. It’s very impressive indeed,” Mr Mutale said.
