Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe highway contractor gets down to business

THE Government has released funds for the rehabilitation of the Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe Highway and the contractor is now on site.

The rehabilitation of the Shurugwi – Mhandamabwe Highway is expected to cost US$41 million. The road connects the Midlands and Masvingo provinces, and due to the bad state of the road, motorists were now driving via Zvishavane town.

The Government engaged a local construction company, Road Trackers Construction (RTC) to reconstruct a 43km stretch along the Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe Road.

The contract includes the construction, upgrading, and widening of the 43km stretch, which links Beitbridge with Gweru, Kwekwe, Chegutu, Kadoma, Chinhoyi, Karoi and Chirundu.

The rehabilitation of the highway is part of the Second Republic’s broader plans to improve key infrastructure in the country in line with National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

The project has ignited excitement among the locals as it will unlock business opportunities for them.

Shurugwi South Constituency legislator Cde Wilson Mhuri said: “We are very excited as people of Shurugwi for the development which has come to our constituency. This confirms the fact that our President is a listening leader. We have been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

A public transport operator based at Chachacha Growth Point Mr Ian Phiri said the rehabilitation of the road is a relief for motorists whose vehicles constantly developed mechanical faults due to the poor state road.

“It is indeed a dream come true for us. We used to have problems with our cars whenever traveling on this road, but today our prayers have just been answered,” he said.

“It is now risky to use this highway as car suspensions are always damaged. So this is a positive development for us as public transporters.”

A local villager, Ms Emily Shoko said some transport operators servicing the route were starting to pull out due to the bad state of the road resulting in transport challenges.

Earlier this week, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona and the Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube led a team of senior Government officials to the site in Shurugwi for a groundbreaking ceremony.

The contractor whose equipment is already at the site, has since started working on detours along the road.

Minister Mhona said the rehabilitation of the road will be finished within 12 months.

“The Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe road has been a topical issue and you can witness that we are right at the border of Masvingo and the Midlands provinces. If you drive from Masvingo, the road is like a carpet, but when you start from here, you see mushrooming of potholes,” he said.

“I want to thank the listening leader, President Mnangagwa who has been running around mobilising resources for our country. As you know we are under illegal sanctions where we cannot tap into other jurisdictions in terms of concessional facilities.”

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