Harare-Chirundu Road upgrade: Local contractors promise timely delivery

FIVE local companies contracted by the Government have assured the nation of completing the Harare-Chirundu trunk road upgrade within the stipulated 18 months.

The project involves widening and resurfacing, dualising, and completing the reconstruction of sections of the 352-kilometre road that links Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa with Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.

Tensor Systems, Masimba, Exodus and Company, Bitumen, and Fossil have expressed confidence in meeting the deadline and employing at least 2 000 locals.

The firms successfully worked on the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway and have now been entrusted with the Harare-Chirundu Road upgrade.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ground-breaking ceremony officiated by Transport and Infrastructural

Development Minister, Felix Mhona at Mapinga, 60 kilometres west of Harare along the highway where, Tensor Systems, has set up a base to signal the commencement of the much-awaited US$550 million project, representatives of companies lauded the Government for trusting local skills.

Also present during the ground-breaking ceremony were Masimba, Exodus and Company and Bitumen local companies that have been involved in the construction of roads in the country.

Fossil is expected to cover the stretch from Harare Zimpost to Mapinga.

All five been given an average of 68 kilometres. Tensor Systems chief operating officer, Engineer Ngonidzashe Musowe whose company will cover Mapinga to Lions Den, said all systems were in place for the road upgrade.

◆ See picture on Page 2, full report on www.herald.co.zw