Government has assigned five more contractors to undertake
roadworks on the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu highway and released $150 million
for the project.
Work is expected to start soon. Tensor Systems, Masimba
Construction, Fossil Contractors, Exodus Company and Bitumen World have each
been allocated 20-kilometre stretches, with room for expansion to 100km
depending on their performance.
The highway is key in attaining Vision 2030, which seeks to
turn the country into an upper middle income economy.
This was said by Transport and Infrastructural Development
Minister Joel Biggie Matiza in Norton on Thursday while assessing progress on a
road-over-rail bridge along a section of the Harare-Bulawayo Highway.
“There is a lot of progress going on. We recently finished
the selection process of the five more contractors and the contracts have been
signed,” he said.
“Next week the companies will start moving to their
respective sites. That has been our plea that the project gets the necessary
attention it deserves.
“Treasury has also availed $150 million for the five
companies to use for mobilisation of resources and getting on their respective
sites. On top of the ($150 million), Treasury will also be doing monthly
disbursements.”
Minister Matiza said the projects were continuing despite
the onset of the rains.
“Yes, we are aware that we are approaching the rainy
season, but rains will not stop us, they will only slow us a bit. When the
rains are heavy, we will obviously stop and continue when they subside or stop.
“Obviously there will be disruptions, but we cannot
completely stop our operations. We are geared for the project and people should
know that we are not going back on this one. As Government we will see it
through to completion,” he said.
The first section of the road covers Mashonaland East
Province, and Tensor Systems will undertake the rehabilitation works while
Masimba Construction is responsible for road works on the section covering the
Midlands Province.
Minister Matiza said two contractors have been assigned to
work on the Masvingo Province section, with Fossil Contractors responsible for
the Masvingo-Chatsworth stretch while Exodus and Company will take care of the
Masvingo-Maringire areas.
Bitumen World will be responsible for Matabeleland South
Province (the Bubi area). Minister Matiza said a team of project managers will be
deployed to ensure all road works are top quality.
The Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu highway project consists of
phased dualisation, rehabilitation and widening of the existing road from the
current seven metres width to Southern Africa Transport and Communications
Commission (SATTC) standard of 12,5 metres width.
Climbing lanes will be added where necessary. The road sections are Beitbridge-Harare with 570km of road
works and eight toll plazas.
The Harare-Chirundu section consists of 342km road works
and six toll plaza, and the Harare ring road covering 59km with three toll
plazas.
Turning to the road-over-rail bridge, Minister Matiza said
the project will be complete by November 21 while construction of a tollgate in
Norton on the other lane is expected to commence before end of year.
“This important structure (road-over-rail bridge) which
allows traffic flows from Harare-Bulawayo, is now at advanced stage by November
21 it will be complete.
“This structure is being done by local engineers. This
shows great strides Government has made on roads and the infrastructure is
amazing despite the economic situation in the country,” he said.
Bitumen World is one of the country’s leading civil engineering
companies involved in infrastructure development, road, concrete, water and
sewer reticulation works it has been involved in a number of road projects
across the country notably the Chivi-Mandamabwe-Tokwe road- Marondera –Musami,
Ngundu-Tanganda roads and those in the Greater Harare area.
Masimba Holding is a contracting group providing innovative
engineering and infrastructure client solutions to various sectors in the
Southern African region. Its services include civil engineering, buildings,
housing, road and earthworks, structural steel fabrication and property
development.
Fossil Contracting is a local contracting firm that
specialises in civil works, contract mining, road construction, earth works,
building and structural works and plant hire. Some of its projects include the
reconstruction of Lunar road in Borrowdale and construction of the Mushagashi
Toll gate plaza along the Harare-Beitbridge road. Exodus and Company is an
infrastructure company that has wide experience and a proven record in
designing and constructing arterial, residential/township and roads, bridges,
water and sewer reticulation networks.
Some of its works include the resealing of the Harare-
Bindura road and the rehabilitation of the Bindura-Mahuhwe road.
Tensor Systems Pvt Ltd is a wholly Zimbabwean owned
infrastructural development company founded in 2003. It is involved in civil
construction, building construction and infrastructure concession services.
Meanwhile, Minister Matiza said the repairing of roads and
bridges in Manicaland Province, which were destroyed by Cyclone Idai, has
reached an advanced stage.
“We are assuring our people in Chimanimani and other areas
who had their roads destroyed by the ravaging Cyclone Idai that those roads
will be usable soon.
“Contractors are busy on the ground and most of the roads
will be usable before the start of the rainy season. We expect them to be in
perfect condition,” said Minister Matiza.
Early this year, Zimbabwe was hit by Cyclone Idai which
killed over 400 people and left many others injured and homeless. Herald
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