Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
ZIMBABWE continues to record significant achievements in infrastructure development, with the construction of dams, road networks, and educational facilities positively transforming communities nationwide.
The nation, now celebrating 45 years of self-determination, has seen major strides driven by successive government-led initiatives aimed at ensuring the citizenry enjoys the tangible fruits of independence.
Under the first republic, Zimbabwe came up with school models across the country to ensure that people have access to education in every corner of the country by bringing schools closer to the people.
This saw the construction of schools and clinics across the country ensuring that services are accessible by all and sundry but most of these infrastructure projects were built by foreigners.
Fast forward to the second Republic, infrastructure development has remained a key priority.
The idea of easing traffic in Harare gave birth to construction works at Mbudzi Interchange.
A humongous project, designed and constructed by locals cements the country’s education sector as superior within the continent.
It has become one of the flagship projects of the Second Republic and is touted as the biggest traffic interchange in the SADC region outside South Africa, with 15 bridges, 1 853 000 cubic metres of gravel for road works, street-lighting, 2 500 square metres of reinforced earth vertical retaining walls, 19.396 kilometres length of roadways, loops and ramps.
More than 1 400 jobs have been created, making this one of the biggest projects by the government after Tokwe Mukosi in Masvingo, the Parliament building in Mt Hampden, and the Robert Mugabe International Airport expansion project in Harare.
The interchange lies on yet another signature project of the Second Republic the 584-kilometre Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare highway which was done by local contractors.
As Zimbabwe commemorates its 45th independence, it is the commitment of the government towards empowering local companies and individuals through job creation that fulfils the objectives of the liberation struggle.
This year’s independence is being celebrated under the theme: Zim @ 45 devolve and develop together towards vision 2030.”
