Huge road projects set for Matabeleland

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu on Sunday said government has invited tenders from potential investors for the completion of outstanding road projects in Matabeleland region and other parts of the country under a multi-billion dollar trunk road rehabilitation scheme.

The initiative is set to speed up the widening of major trunk roads such as Bulawayo-Nkayi, Kezi and Tsholotsho highways, which have been in limbo for nearly two decades.

Dr Obert Mpofu said: "the tenders have already been advertised and we are waiting for potential investors to respond. All those roads, Bulawayo-Kezi, Bulawayo-Nkayi and Bulawayo-Tsholotsho, are part of the programm."

He said the multi-billion dollar project will also include the upgrading of the Bulawayo-Victoria, Harare–Chirundu and Harare-Beitbridge highways among the 16 targeted roads.

Most of the roads have not been rehabilitated for many years due to lack of funding and are in urgent need of upgrading.

Dr Mpofu said his ministry had since come up with a calendar for the rehabilitation project, which will be guided by the response from potential contractors.

He could not state when the project would start or end saying that would be determined by the responses from tenders.

"The pace would also be determined by the seriousness of the investors we will get. For the roads that will be attended to, the list is incorporated on the tender document but off hand that's all trunk roads," Dr Mpofu added.

The closing date for receipt of bids is February 21, 2014, after which work is expected to start.

The project is expected to be implemented in the same manner with the 820km Plumtree-Mutare Highway being undertaken by South African company, Group Five.

Dr Mpofu said Group Five would continue with its project but was eligible to compete for tenders with other contractors.

He said: "They (Group Five) have their own programme and never stopped working. If they want to apply for this particular project, they can do so. We are monitoring their work and there is a good working relationship with Government."

Meanwhile, Dr Mpofu took a swipe at urban local authorities for failing to repair city roads despite receiving equipment support from Government.

Local authorities received motorised graders to rehabilitate the rural road network when President Mugabe launched the initial phase in May this year where 40 graders were handed over to different councils.

The project was the initiative of the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara).

Dr Mpofu said Government was working towards sourcing more equipment for rural authorities to augment what has been done already.

"We helped urban councils with pothole filling equipment but we still notice potholes in cities like Bulawayo and Harare and we wonder what could be happening. This equipment is very expensive and they should utilise it," said Dr Mpofu.

Comment could not be obtained from Bulawayo mayor Councillor Martin Moyo as his mobile phone rang unanswered.
The poor road infrastructure has also been blamed for the spate of fatal accidents.

It is estimated that about $4 billion is required to rehabilitate the country's road network.