Story by Fungai Jachi
SIGNIFICANT progress has been recorded on the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, with less than 40 kilometres remaining before the completion of one of the Second Republic’s flagship infrastructure projects.
The 582-kilometre highway runs from Beitbridge, through Masvingo, to the capital, Harare. So far, 547 kilometres have been opened to traffic, bringing the project into its final phase.
Once complete, the highway is expected to boost regional trade, improve road safety and strengthen economic connectivity between Harare and the southern border.
Meanwhile, road rehabilitation works within Masvingo Province are also gathering pace. Key projects include the Trumpet Interchange and the Chevron Bridge, both of which are progressing well.
Deputy Roads Engineer for Masvingo Province in the Department of Roads, Engineer Shadreck Kativhu, said the Trumpet Interchange project is already set to ease traffic pressure.
“The project is now at 34 percent completion and we expect it to ease the flow of traffic, especially heavy trucks travelling to and from Beitbridge. By the end of this month, we are going to open the main bridge to traffic,” he said.
Motorists in Masvingo have welcomed the developments, expressing optimism that the projects will ease congestion and improve safety.
We are really happy because the completion of these projects will ease traffic congestion, which has been too much,” said one motorist.
“This intervention has come at an opportune time. Traffic has increased and road accidents will be minimised,” said another.
Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Omphile Marupi, who toured high-impact projects in Masvingo Province, said the pace of construction demonstrates Government’s commitment to infrastructure development.
“The timely completion of such projects is essential. While this bridge is important to the people of Masvingo, it is also important to the country and the SADC region. Traffic from South Africa, Zambia and Malawi passes through this town. We have faced challenges for some time, but with this bridge we are confident that business will be done more efficiently, boosting commerce in Masvingo and Zimbabwe. The Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare road is largely complete, with only a few kilometres left. We are now talking about months until full completion,” he said.
Government continues to prioritise road infrastructure development under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase Two, with about ZiG$15.7 billion channelled towards the rehabilitation of at least 44 000 kilometres of roads nationwide.
