Story by Gay Matambo
CONSTRUCTION of the 31.2-kilometre Christmas Pass By-Pass Road in Manicaland Province is progressing steadily, with the project expected to transform transport logistics and improve road safety in the eastern border city.
The development aligns with the Government’s inclusive development agenda under the leadership of President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The major infrastructure project is being implemented through a partnership between the Government and Leengate Private Limited.
Once completed, the bypass will divert heavy-haulage trucks away from the dangerous, winding Christmas Pass route, which has long posed safety challenges for motorists.
For years, the existing mountain pass has acted as a dangerous bottleneck along the Beira Corridor, with brake failures and truck jack-knifes causing serious accidents on a near-weekly basis.
“The mountain pass is hazardous enough during the day, but driving it at night or in heavy mist is terrifying, especially when you encounter broken-down trucks stuck on the sharpest bends. This new infrastructure asset is exactly what the logistics sector needed,” a motorist said.
“This bypass interchange is going to drastically cut down our turnaround times, allowing us to clear the border and move freight toward Harare, Zambia, or Malawi much faster,” a trucker said.
“Having a bypass with a gentle, forgiving slope means less wear and tear on our trucks and, more importantly, it eliminates the constant fear of a runaway accident. It makes our job immensely safer,” a truck driver said.
With significant earthworks, land clearance, and subgrade preparation ongoing, on-site engineers confirm the project is progressing towards its target completion date.
“It is crucial to note that the project includes two major interchanges and several bridges. The modern traffic interchanges will be located at both ends of the 31.2-kilometre route. The first will be positioned at the beginning of the project at the Romeo Turn-off, and the second will be at Mutare Teachers’ College, where the new route seamlessly connects with the Mutare-Chimanimani Highway,” Construction Engineer Manicaland Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport, Engineer Patrick Muropa said.
“The bypass is specifically designed to reduce curves and steep slopes, directly addressing the safety hazards of the existing Christmas Pass route. Given the magnitude of the project, a number of challenges straddling mobilization of equipment, existing services, terrain, and design have been encountered, but we are proactively managing them,” Site Agent LeenGate Private Limited Engineer Kuzivakwashe Mandishona said.
Infrastructure development has emerged as the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economic strategy under the Second Republic, led by President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the head of state has in the past spoken passionately about how infrastructure is part of the national development agenda.
“The vision towards restoring, modernising, and upgrading our national infrastructure is ongoing. The opening up of economic development corridors to build local capacities and create more employment opportunities is on course. Roads are an economy. As such, road construction, routine rehabilitation, and maintenance have been rolled out,” he said.
Meanwhile, this project is a major milestone under the National Development Strategy Two (NDS2) that will decongest Mutare’s CBD and improve the movement of cargo along the Beira Corridor.
