Youths urged to take advantage of dualisation project

Walter Mswazie in Masvingo
YOUTHS in Masvingo Province have been urged to take advantage of job opportunities that are going to be created by the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Chirundu highway expected to begin at the end of this month.

Chivi Rural District Council chairman Dr Killer Zivhu told Sunday News that youths in the province were supposed to gear themselves up for employment opportunities since local companies have a stake in the project as sub-contractors.

The Government has negotiated that 40 percent of the work be given to local companies that will be sub-contracted by the main contractor, Geiger International from Austria.

“The dualisation project will definitely bring a number of opportunities in Masvingo and we have to help our employed youths benefit. Youths should grab these opportunities because it is the only way to improve their standard of living instead of roaming around the growth point doing nothing,” said Dr Zivhu who is Zimbabwe Association of Rural District Councils president.

He also urged local companies to be ready to take up sub-contracting jobs saying the main contractor needs them for the supply of locally available material to be used for the project.

“You cannot expect a foreign company to be hired to supply quarry. That can be easily done by our local companies and our youths should also be involved. However, our local companies should also have the capacity to do certain tasks as we do not want them to be found wanting in providing what they would have said they could supply,” he said.

Chivi businessman Mr John Hungoedza who is running a motel at Maringire Business Centre, about 70km along Masvingo-Beitbridge Road said the business community also stands to benefit from the project.

He said the dualisation would open a lot of business avenues for the local businesspeople and chances were that more work force would needed.

“When we get more business we would need more people to do the work and in this regard more unemployed youths will get employment. This is good for us as businesspeople as it will see an increase in our clientele base. We also look forward to boosting our hospitality industry as many people would want accommodation here. This is an opportunity that will benefit the unemployed youths and us the businesspeople,” said Mr Hungoedza.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Dr Joram Gumbo said the project would be done in phases, the first being from Beitbridge to Tokwana-Ngundu in Masvingo Province, Tokwana-Ngundu to Mvuma in Midlands then Mvuma to Harare.