President Mnangagwa
yesterday commissioned the US$4,5 million Norton road-over-rail bridge in
Mashonaland West Province and promised that his Government will continue to
construct major infrastructure using locally mobilised resources.
The bridge eliminates a rail crossing by taking the major
Harare-Bulawayo highway over the main railway line to improve safety and reduce
delays. Government is also working on extending the existing Norton Toll Plaza
on the dualised road as part of the New Dispensation’s commitment to
infrastructure development.
In his address before commissioning the bridge, President
Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe should not continue to lag behind its neighbours whose
road infrastructure has been modernised.
“All our neighbours have dualised and refurbished their
roads and we need to do the same, so that our roads can match those of our
neighbours in terms of quality and safety. So my Government will continue to
fund the construction, rehabilitation of infrastructure across the entire
country from domestic resources. We will not go to World Bank and IMF,” said
President Mnangagwa.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development
has to distribute resources equally across all provinces with no preferential
treatment being accorded to any region.
“I urge the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural
Development to continue with the zeal and pace that has been going on, and our
Government will continue to support you. I urge the Department of Roads to
prudently utilise resources allocated for roads and bridge construction so that
the majority of our people benefit.
“I also urge stakeholders that projects of this nature are
in compliance with the local content policy. I call for equitable distribution
of resources across all provinces and this duty is on you (Minister of
Transport and Infrastructural Development Joel) Matiza. Make sure there is no
province more important than the other,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said while Zimbabwe will continue on its re-engagement
drive, it will do so with a clear conscience that it had not wronged anyone.
“Yes, we have introduced the policy of engagement and
re-engagement but we have never offended any country. We have distributed our
own land and not someone else’s land. So we are saying to the international
community ‘let us embrace each other, What differences are there? Where have we
offended you? We know we have not offended you, but you are imposing sanctions
on us. What crime have committed? None!’” said President Mnangagwa.
He commended the contractor, Bitumen World, for completing
the project ahead of time.
Speaking at the same occasion, Minister Matiza said the
project had created employment for 28 skilled and 82 unskilled workers.
“The bridge as it stands now, has a 6 metre vertical
clearance to accommodate trains as per requirements of National Railways of
Zimbabwe and a width of 10,5 metres to accommodate an additional railway line
and future rail developments,” said Minister Matiza.
“For smooth passage of vehicles the bridge included approximately
450m bridge approaches on both sides, gabion retention walls and guard rails on
either side for road safety.”
He said the bridge was constructed bearing in mind the need
to reduce road carnage.
“Under the Second
Republic the construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges must be
perceived correctly as facilitating the movement of goods, products and
passengers within the country and beyond. In view of our ongoing plans to
rehabilitate roads (and) railways are primarily the principal means of
transport and this road is a crucial cog in our economic relations with our
neighbouring countries,” he said.
Minister of State for Mashonaland West Province Mary Mliswa
said as a farming area, the construction of the bridge would go a long way in
bringing connectivity to the community.
“Our province is a breadbasket of the country. We are a
hardworking province that drives the economy through mining, agriculture and
manufacturing,” she said. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment