Story by John Nhandara
THE rehabilitation of the Harare–Kanyemba highway has surpassed 20 kilometres following the opening of a new five-kilometre dual carriageway to traffic.
The latest development brings the total length of dualised road on the route to over 20 kilometres, as Government presses ahead with transforming the highway into a modern transport artery.
Motorists welcomed the progress, saying the upgrade will significantly ease congestion and reduce travel times.
“This is good news as we witness the rehabilitation of this road. There is no doubt that this will ease congestion. We now take a short period from Harare to Mazowe,” motorists said.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Honourable Felix Mhona, said the project involves upgrading the existing road up to Kanyemba and constructing a dual carriageway up to Mazowe.
“It demonstrates we have a listening president. We are witnessing the opening of this carriage-way. We were supposed to dualise less than ten kilometers but we are now dualising about 33 kilometers upto Mazowe,” he said.
Mashonaland Central Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Christopher Magomo, described the highway as a key trade corridor linking Zimbabwe to countries such as Zambia.
“The rehabilitation of this road will boost our provincial GDP because this is an important road. We are an agro-based province, hence we will easily transport our produce,” Honourable Magomo said.
The upgrade comes as Government has extended the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme to the end of the year.
