Harare-Beitbridge Highway unlocking economic growth

FUNCTIONAL infrastructure is one of the key building blocks for the attainment of a relatively prosperous society with high standards of living as envisaged through Vision 2030.

Transport infrastructure, in particular, is one of the quickest ways to unlock significant economic growth potential by opening up trade opportunities.

The 582,4-kilometre Harare-Beitbridge Highway’s significance to the economy cannot be overemphasised.

However, it is also significant for the broader continental economy insofar as the stretch is part of the North-South Corridor that connects Cape Town in the south and Cairo in the north.

Although South Africa remains Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, the country is also an important player in intra-African trade.

According to independent thinktank Trade Law Centre (Tralac), Zimbabwe’s intra-Africa exports and imports amounted to US$2,4 billion and US$3,04 billion respectively in 2020.

And with Zimbabwe being a signatory to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which came into effect in January last year, the modernised highway will help the country effectively tap into the integrated African market of over 1,2 billion people and gross domestic product (GDP) of US$2,5 trillion.

The Government is accelerating rehabilitation of the Harare-Beitbridge

Highway.

Beitbridge Border Post — a key regional trade route — is also being modernised.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said: “The upgrade of the Beitbridge Border Post and the Harare-Beitbridge Highway positions Zimbabwe as a regional transport hub and gateway into the SADC region.”

With a 22-kilometre stretch of the Harare-Beitbridge road having been completed recently, rehabilitation of the highway is now 58 percent complete.

To highlight its importance, modernisation of the road has been included in COMESA-ECA-SADC Tripartite and the African Union Programme for Regional Corridor Development.

The current first phase of the modernisation project sees the highway expanded from the previous width of seven metres to 12,5 metres, which is in line with the Southern Africa Transport and Communications standards.

The first phase rehabilitation also sees the dualisation of the stretch from Harare to Beatrice, the first 20km either side of Chivhu and first 20km either side of Masvingo, as well as the first 20km from Beitbridge.

“This is to reduce congestion,” said Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Theodius Chinyanga.

In Masvingo, the road works will include a bypass.

“We want to manage truckers, especially those carrying fuel and hazardous materials, so that they don’t pass through the town,” added Eng Chinyanga.

Ongoing works also include enhancement of curve radius for better navigation and construction of auxiliary road structures.

Phase two of the project will see dualisation of the highway.

Additional projects

Outside modernisation of the NorthSouth Corridor, Government is rehabilitating roads across the country under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP 2).

The programme is not only improving the country’s road infrastructure, but also creating business and employment opportunities for locals.

“To date, we have engaged 55 contractors under ERRP 2 and have hired 10 870 contract workers.

“The transport infrastructure sector is therefore awash with opportunities for you tap into, with opportunities worth US$200 million presented in 2021, US$120 million in 2022, and US$80 million earmarked for 2023 under ERRP2 alone,” said Minister Mhona.

“Clearly, there is enough value that is being injected into the market for all contractors to participate and benefit, with US$1,3 million having been saved as a result of contracting locals on the Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare Highway.”