Rehabilitation of the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway is set to commence soon, in a project that will also involve the upgrading of the Nyamapanda border post as the government, through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, is focused on improving infrastructure across the country.
Speaking to vhayeya.com yesterday after a brief tour of the Nyamapanda border post, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Hon Felix Tapiwa Mhona, stated that the administrative work related to the private-public partnership arrangement for the project was now at an advanced stage.
The highway, which serves as the major trade corridor between Zimbabwe and its northeastern neighbors, Mozambique and Malawi, is set to witness the commencement of construction work very soon.
“The highway which is the major trade corridor between Zimbabwe and its North Eastern neighbours, Mozambique and Malawi is going to witness work starting very soon.
“Under the leadership of The President His Excellency Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa there is no road that is going to be left unattended and I would like to tell you that soon you are going to see the road that links Zimbabwe to Mozambique and Malawi being rehabilitated.
“We are working with a partner under a PPP arrangement and we are finalising the modalities which will see not only the rehabilitation of the highway but also the boarder post itself,” he said.
Under the second republic, Zimbabwe has undertaken a major effort to rehabilitate most of the national roads, which extend to approximately 90,000 kilometers.
Currently, massive rehabilitation is taking place in and around Zimbabwe, with a significant amount of work being carried out in Harare as the country prepares to host the SADC summit in August.
The road works going on will also see roads around new Parliament building being revamped to first class and these include the 6km Boulevard from Bindura road to the new Parliament building.
Of note again is the massive Mbudzi Interchange, which is taking shape and is currently at over 60% completion.
It is set to be completed before August, barring any unforeseen impediments.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Mudzi North Constituency Hon Benjamin Musweweshiri, where the Nyamapanda border post is located, is excited about the development.
“We are very happy and we thank the President Dr E.D Mnangagwa for finding it necessary to work on the Harare Nyamapanda highway. It is our hope that the Nyamapanda boarder post is going to experience positive growth as we are aware that the Second Republic has done a lot of wonderful work at Beitbridge and we are also expecting the same standard here.
“We are even more happy that even the locals from Mudzi constituency are going to benefit in terms of employment creation.
“In the event that the area is improved, it is going to augment the work being done by the President as well as build the relationship with our Mozambican counterparts who frequently visit the Nyamapanda border for business and social reasons,” he said.
He pledged to work along with the Mudzi Rural District Council towards the provision of standard selling points for vendors in Mudzi.
“I am going to work with Mudzi Rural District Council in ensuring that vendors have standard stores where they are supposed to carry out their businesses,” he said.
Other locals who spoke to vhayeya.com expressed their gratitude towards the prospect of having a revamped boarder post.
Locals and sisters, Esther and Janet Chinyanga who are in the business of selling cooked food to travellers who use the boarder post said they are happy that the President has decided to rehabilitate the boarder post.
“We thank our President for the rehabilitation plans of both the highway and Nyamapanda border. We are very positive that the Mudzi Rural District council is also going to complement the President’s effort by constructing vending stalls where we are going to conduct our businesses.
“Our MP has been standing with us as small business players and am sure he too is happy that Nyamapanda is going to have a face lift,” they said.
Story by Lovemore Masunungure
