News / National
Zimbabwe's $700 million road project to resume soon
29 Mar 2013 at 17:22hrs | Views
The dualisation of the Chirundu-Harare-Beitbridge Highway will resume soon after Government secured US$350 million for the project.
Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche said feasibility studies on the project had been completed.
The project is expected to cost US$700 million.
Minister Goche said several road construction companies have expressed interest to carry out the project.
"We have upped the ante to resume the dualisation of the road and as I speak feasibility studies have been completed.
"We will be moving back to the highway as soon as we complete the dualisation of other highways," Minister Goche said.
"We should have completed the Chirundu-Harare-Beitbridge highway first before venturing into other projects, but the money we had was not sufficient for such a multi-million dollar project."
"At one time we raised only US$260 million, which we then channelled to other low cost highways because the money was not enough to kick-start work on the Chirundu-Harare-Beitbridge highway,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Goche said Government had put in place several measures to tame the runaway carnage on Zimbabwe's highways.
"We have engaged bus owners not to overwork their drivers.
"The bus companies are now required to have two drivers for long distance buses especially cross-borders as most of the accidents are due to fatigue.
"People should respect the right to life," he said.
Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche said feasibility studies on the project had been completed.
The project is expected to cost US$700 million.
Minister Goche said several road construction companies have expressed interest to carry out the project.
"We have upped the ante to resume the dualisation of the road and as I speak feasibility studies have been completed.
"We will be moving back to the highway as soon as we complete the dualisation of other highways," Minister Goche said.
"We should have completed the Chirundu-Harare-Beitbridge highway first before venturing into other projects, but the money we had was not sufficient for such a multi-million dollar project."
"At one time we raised only US$260 million, which we then channelled to other low cost highways because the money was not enough to kick-start work on the Chirundu-Harare-Beitbridge highway,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Goche said Government had put in place several measures to tame the runaway carnage on Zimbabwe's highways.
"We have engaged bus owners not to overwork their drivers.
"The bus companies are now required to have two drivers for long distance buses especially cross-borders as most of the accidents are due to fatigue.
"People should respect the right to life," he said.
Source - Herald
