Mutasa Border Post construction gathers momentum

PLANS to set up a border post in Mutasa District have intensified following the recent tender by the tea planting and processing company, Eastern Highlands Plantation Limited to construct a bridge and gravel road from their plant.

This was revealed last Wednesday during a tour of the Eastern Highlands Plantation Limited operations by the Manicaland Joint Operations Committee.

Manica Post reported that the idea to set up a border post in Mutasa was mooted in 2013 after the realisation that the route was being actively used by border jumpers to cross to either countries through a makeshift foot bridge.

The route is shorter to Chimoio in Mozambique through the Katandika –Chimoio link road which is just 22 kilometres away from Mutasa's Katiyo Rural Centre after crossing Rwera River.

Eastern Highlands Plantations Limited general manager,  Pratap Pareekh, said by creating a border post in Mutasa the company would stand to benefit as it would cut nearly 100 kilometres of road travel expenses it incurs using the Mutare-Biera route to export its tea.

"We stand to cut a lot of costs on transport expenses through the establishment of the Mutasa Border Post without mentioning the potential economic boom Mutasa District stands to benefit from the border post. As Eastern Highlands, we will cut 100km by using the Katandika –Chimoio link route and the terrain is better than the mountainous terrain our trucks have to endure by the use of the Mutasa-Mutare enroute to Beira," said Pareekh.

EHPL said it was prepared to construct a modern reinforced concrete deck bridge across Rwere River and a gravel road from their plant through Katiyo Estate.

Pareekh also added that the opening of the border post would see an increase in tourist arrivals in Zimbabwe given that Gorongoza National Park in Mozambique was nearer through the route, rather than driving from Beira.

"This creates opportunities for small chartered flights to fly to Mutasa where there is an airstrip that need upgrading. Even local travel agents will stand to benefit from the Mutasa Border Post route. The hospitality sector in the Eastern Highlands will get a tourist arrival boom, so the business opportunities are many for the district and province at large," said  Pareekh.

Cde Chimene was quick to commend the initiative saying it was part of Government's public and private partnership agenda enshrined in the economic turnaround blueprint, Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

Cde Chimene, however, expressed concern over bureaucratic delays from Central Government on the proposal.

"I have since written to Government on the matter, but I am still to get a response. My concern is with you office bearers in Government (civil servants) as you tend to sit on matters after we (politicians) hand them over to you. I am, however, confident this matter will be given the necessary attention given its potential to develop Mutasa District, which is a district with so much economic substance," said Cde Chimene.

She said the project would be a one-stop-border concept to blend with the modern times.

After being asked on the threats paused by Mozambican Renamo rebels, Cde Chimene said Zimbabwe would not be stopped from implementing pivotal developmental projects because of foreign rebel threats.

Manicaland JOC chairman and Officer Commanding Manicaland Police, Senior Assistant Commissioner Isaac Tayengwa, said deployments had been made along the border to monitor activities happening there following alerts of Renamo activities in Burma Valley