Honourable Felix Tapiwa Mhona, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, has announced that the Ministry will be prioritizing the rehabilitation of emotional roads as part of the ongoing road construction and rehabilitation efforts across the country in the post-SADC period.
At the official opening of the completed Harare Drive Missing Link Road and Mukuvisi River Bridge, two key components of the Mbudzi Interchange project, Hon Mhona stated that the Ministry will be focusing on the rehabilitation of emotional roads as part of the country’s continuous infrastructure development efforts, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s progress.
“The Ministry is continuing with road rehabilitation programs across the country as part of our ongoing efforts to improve the nation’s infrastructure and connectivity.
“There are emotional roads across the country, such as the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, Chipinge- Mt Selinda, and others, that are of great importance to our communities. I can assure you that my Ministry is committed to rehabilitating these critical roads as part of our continuous infrastructure development efforts
“These emotional roads are of utmost importance as they significantly shorten the distance and provide easy access to other places, greatly improving connectivity and mobility for the communities they serve,” said Hon Mhona.
He also announced that the Forbes border expansion is underway and a 31.5 kilometre bypass leading to the border is also underway.
In addition, the Minister highlighted that his Ministry is going to rehabilitate Harare Nyamapanda Highway, popularly known as Mutoko Road and Cabinet has already approved the project.
Hon Mhona stated that the newly completed Harare Drive Missing Link Road and Mukuvisi River Bridge were of great importance, as the infrastructure would help filter traffic and ease the congestion that had long plagued the area, greatly improving the flow of movement and accessibility.
Furthermore, Hon Mhona noted that the newly completed road infrastructure would greatly assist in preventing the frequent accidents that occurred as vehicles attempted to turn right from Simon Mazorodze, a dangerous maneuver that had led to numerous tragic “carnages” in the past.
He praised the engineers working on the projects, especially the women, and specifically acknowledged Engineer J. P Makumbe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, for their outstanding contributions.
Speaking at the event, Honourable Knowledge Kaitano, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development, commended the Second Republic under President Emmerson Mnangagwa for its visionary approach to upgrading the country’s infrastructure.
“The nation was at a pause for a while on infrastructural development, but thanks to the vision of His Excellency and the Second Republic, we are now witnessing a surge in projects being undertaken, and notably, by Zimbabweans themselves, truly embodying the mantra ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’,” said Hon Kaitano.
Construction on the multi-million-dollar Mbudzi Interchange project has reached a significant milestone, with the project now standing at 85 percent completion.
The Mbudzi Interchange project is being undertaken by Tefoma Construction, a joint venture formed by three companies, Tensor Systems, Fossil Contracting, and Masimba Construction.
The Minister was accompanied by the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Honourable Charles Tavengwa, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development Hon K. Kaitano, Commissioner L. Mavhima, Harare Province Zanu-PF Chairman Cde G. Masimirembwa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Engineer J. P Makumbe, ZINARA Board Chairperson Dr G. Manyaya, TSCZ Managing Director Mr M. Munodawafa and other officials from the government and Ministry of Transport.
Story by Jeremiah Gora
