Work to widen and upgrade the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway
has finally begun in Chivhu with graders and earthmoving equipment now busy
carrying out detour works on the first 10 kilometre stretch.
The project had been put on hold for many years, but
finally, it has started thanks to the new dispensation which gave a nod for
local engineers to be given a chance to widen this important highway.
“We have been here for the past two weeks, we have been
employed by the Surveyors Department and as you can see, graders are busy
clearing the land, this is detour work, so we are doing the first 10
kilometres,” explained one of the surveyors.
The detour works are expected to also start from Harare
side next week as the government intensifies the rehabilitation and expansion
of the highway.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development,
Cde Joel Biggie Matiza said current works are a stop gap measure to curb
rampant road carnages, as the government works on bringing in a Chinese
investor for the dualisation.
‘’We have engaged a Chinese investor, AFEC for the
dualisation project, but as we speak, work is in progress to widen and upgrade
the road which is being done local engineers,” he said”
The upgrading of this highway, which is expected to take
three years, is estimated to cost $2 billion.
So far, about $150 million has been set aside for the
initial stages of the project. zbc
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