Bulawayo airport road to be dualised

GOVERNMENT will dualise the Bulawayo-Joshua Mqabuko International Airport road as part of modernising feeder routes for visitors coming into the country's main cities through airports.

The project, said a Cabinet minister, will replicate Harare-Harare International Airport road, which has seen a dual carriageway and a number of attractive features along the stretch.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu told Sunday Business that the Bulawayo project was among Government's major priorities.

"When we started this operation of rehabilitating roads, we had priorities and the airport roads were one of the major ones.

Now that the Harare airport road is nearing completion, the next on our list is the Bulawayo project," he said.

He said the roads would also help in boosting tourism as they would provide the first impression on Zimbabwe for those who will come through the airports.

"We are not compromising in terms of the standards of these roads as Zimbabwe is also a force to reckon with in terms of tourism in the region, hence international standards should be accomplished.

With the help of the Zimbabwe National Road Administration the sector has managed to generate its own funds to finance these projects as they are being funded from vehicle licensing fees.

The 20-kilometre road stretch will receive the dual carriageway, widening of roads and road signs," he said.

Zinara took over the Harare airport road project which started six years ago in June last year from Harare City Council which had contracted Augur Investments which, however, lacked financial capacity.

Phase one of the airport road was 90 percent complete in November 2014 and Phase 2 is now set to be completed anytime. Dr Mpofu said the development of the roads would go a long way in terms of improving the country's economy.

"The tourism sector will improve upon the completion of these projects and also employment has been created making it a win-win situation for the economy of the country," he said.

Bulawayo City Council deputy mayor Councillor Gift Banda said the local authority was excited that Government was giving attention to the airport road in the same way as other cities.

"It is a very wonderful development and we hope they will manage to complete the project. It is an initiative that we welcome with both hands as the people of Bulawayo and we are especially grateful for the development that has been made to the airport itself and the Harare to Bulawayo road," he said.
Councillor Banda said locals must benefit first from the project. "We hope that workers for this project won't be imported but will be residents of the city as this initiative should benefit the locals," he said.

Bulawayo Publicity Association director Mrs Valerie Bell said first impressions were vital and this initiative would change the impression foreigners had of the city.

"First impressions are very important and this road will ensure that visitors see Bulawayo as the city and not like a village. This is an excellent initiative as it automatically raises the standards high as great things are expected from us and we surely have to deliver. This will boost tourism in the City of Kings," she said.

The ministry announced last year that major roads were to receive rehabilitation and the country has since witnessed a number of projects.