US$40 million highway furniture plan for Old Gwanda Road upgrade

ZWANE Enterprises has been granted Cabinet approval to construct the 120km Old Gwanda Road through a “Built Operate and Transfer” arrangement at a total cost of US$150 million.

The project is part of the Government’s Public Private Partnership policy, which aims to boost infrastructural development in the country.

The construction will be headed by Zwane Enterprise, with the road furniture project expected to cost US$40 million, which includes CCTV surveillance systems and solar street lighting.

The project is set to be completed in six months, commencing in August, and will incorporate health centres and fire and emergency centres.

Additionally, cultural sites will be developed to enhance tourism in the area. To ensure effective financing, various construction firms will work on the road works, as budgetary constraints are limiting Treasury’s ability to finance road construction projects.

“We are still working on a US$150 million budget. US$110 million is for the road works and US$40 million is for the road furniture. We are determined to start the construction works in August and we want to complete the project within six months. Our target is to have the road completed by December,” Zwane Enterprise chief executive officer, Engineer Bekithemba Mbambo, said.

“The road furniture covers shopping malls at Bagcwele and Gwanda end. Bagcwele Shopping Mall will have a road port, service station, Zwane Enterprise offices, agro market and a truck inn.

“The truck inn will also have a diesel-only service station. We will construct a total of five service stations along the road.”

Eng Mbambo said the road will have two toll gates, one at Ntunjambili area whose construction theme will use Matobo Hills while the second one will be situated in Vubachikwe in Gwanda, whose construction will depict the mining areas of Gwanda.

“Our highway will have street solar lighting in the whole 120km stretch, CCTV, and water pipeline running along. Our lay-by and major bus stops will have running water facilities in the rest rooms. A few cultural sites will be developed to enhance tourism,” he said.

Zwane Enterprise is expected to construct modern homesteads for 43 families whose houses would be affected by the road project.

The investor has also pledged to adopt the Government’s strategy of employing various construction companies to work on the road works.

Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona, recently told Parliament that competing budgetary constraints were limiting Treasury in terms of financing road construction projects hence PPP will be critical in ensuring that roads are rehabilitated and redone. — @nqotshili