Source: Byo-Vic Falls Road rehab on course – herald
Freeman Razemba in Matabeleland North
WORK on the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road is progressing well, with more than 47,5km of the road having been opened to traffic.
The 440-kilometre road is expected to be completed by the end of this year and all the eight contractors are on site.
Last week, Cabinet ministers toured the highway assessing progress which is being made by the contractors.
The ministers opened another 5km stretch at Cross Jotsholo which was completed by one of the contractors, Tensor Systems.
All the contractors assured the Government that they will work tirelessly to ensure that they meet the deadline.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, who was leading the delegation, was accompanied by Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo; Matabeleland North provincial roads engineer, Xolani Ncube; senior Government officials and engineers from the Ministry of Transport led by chief director Engineer David Jana.
Addressing journalists, Minister Mhona said the purpose of the tour in Matabeleland North was to check the performance of the contractors.
“As you are aware on Thursday (last week) we were in Gwanda and Maphisa conducting a similar tour.
“But what I am happy with, is that in line with the mantra of our visionary leader President Mnangagwa of leaving no place and no one behind, today we are here at Cross Jotsholo and in Matabeleland North province where we are checking progress made so far in terms of road rehabilitation projects.”
He said President Mnangagwa has ordered that the highway should be completed as soon as possible so that it is trafficable for the benefit of motorists and visitors.
Minister Mhona assured that the contractors will work tirelessly to ensure that the road is completed on time.
“I am happy with the works that I have witnessed. The works are progressing well and by the end of this year the road will be completed up to Victoria Falls,” Minister Mhona said.
Minister Moyo said, “We are happy as a province and we want to thank the President and the Second Republic for moving to rehabilitate this road.
“All the contractors are in the second phase of working on their 10km stretch each. They are eight contractors and so if what they promised us that after one month they will be done with 10km each, we will be having 80km after one month.”
He said people in the province were happy with progress made so far.
Minister Moyo said he was also happy that most of the contractors had created jobs for people in Matabeleland North.
The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, a critical trade and tourism artery linking Zimbabwe with Zambia, Namibia and Botswana, is being upgraded under the Government’s ongoing national road rehabilitation and modernisation programme.
Initially, five contractors – Fossil Contracting, Masimba Holdings, Syvern Investment, Bitumen Resources and Tensor Systems were awarded contracts to rehabilitate sections of the 440-kilometre stretch.
The Government later added three more contractors for Lots 6, 7 and 8, covering the final approaches to Victoria Falls to fast-track the completion of the upgrading of this busy highway.
The highway serves as a key route for regional trade and tourism, connecting southern Zimbabwe to the Kazungula Bridge and the wider SADC transport network.
For years, motorists, truckers and tourists travelling to Victoria Falls – a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the world’s premier tourist destinations – have endured long, difficult journeys due to the pothole-riddled highway.
The rehabilitation work, expected to be completed this year, aims to restore the route to world-class standards that support the free flow of goods, tourism traffic and regional economic integration.
In an interview with Zimpapers last November, Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry permanent secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe said while weather conditions can pose challenges, contractors are prepared to continue with critical works where it is safe and technically feasible.
The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road rehabilitation is part of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP II), launched by the Government to modernise the country’s road network. The programme has seen major works on highways such as Harare-Beitbridge, Harare-Chirundu, Mutare-Harare, and key feeder roads in all provinces.
The project aligns with the Second Republic’s policy of devolution and inclusive development, ensuring that strategic economic corridors in all regions receive attention to unlock industrial growth, facilitate tourism and enhance cross-border trade.
Once complete, the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road is expected to improve road safety, reduce travel time between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls and strengthen Zimbabwe’s position as a regional logistics and tourism hub.
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