Story by Oleen Ndori
THE construction of the Manyame River Bridge is expected to significantly improve traffic flow along the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, as Government accelerates rehabilitation works on one of the country’s busiest economic corridors.
The Highway is steadily nearing completion under Government’s infrastructure modernisation programme, which is anchored in the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
It is a critical link connecting Zimbabwe to regional markets in Southern Africa, facilitating trade, tourism and the movement of goods and services.
A major highlight of the project is the newly constructed Manyame River Bridge, a modern traffic facility designed to significantly ease congestion along this busy route.
The bridge replaces older infrastructure and incorporates improved safety features, wider lanes and enhanced load-bearing capacity to accommodate increasing traffic volumes, particularly heavy commercial haulage trucks.
Transport operators and motorists have welcomed the development, citing improved efficiency and reduced congestion.
“This route is very important for business. The improved road and bridge will reduce costs and turnaround times,” Charles Mukumba said.
“We used to experience delays here, especially during peak hours, but this new bridge is a big relief,” a motorist said.
“We are happy with this development, it shows that government is really committed to how we can travel safely and comfortably,” a transporter said.
The Manyame River Bridge is set to be opened to traffic later this month.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development says over 540 kilometres of the Harare-Beitbridge highway have already been opened to traffic, marking a significant milestone under the NDS2 framework.
