News / National
$19m for Mberengwa-West Nicholson tarred road construction
08 Jul 2018 at 13:11hrs | Views
THE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has embarked on massive $19 million road construction projects which links Mberengwa and West Nicholson and another linking Mberengwa and Mataga.
Mberengwa-West Nicholson Road, which will have tarmac, will become the shortest route linking Gweru and Beitbridge.
The distance between Mberengwa and West Nicholson is 98 kilometres. If completed, haulage trucks and buses going to Zambia are likely to use the route as it reduces distance by close to 100 kilometres.
In an interview, Midlands provincial road engineer, Engineer Stephen Kamutema said work on the project has already started after the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development availed $19 million.
"We have started constructing two roads in Mberengwa. The other road links Mberengwa and Mataga and the other one links West Nicholson and Mberengwa. We will put tarmac on 20km on the road that links West Nicholson and Mberengwa which will cost about $11 million and 15km on the one linking Mberengwa Office and Mataga which will cost about $9 million. These are massive projects," he said.
Mberengwa North representative in the National Assembly Tafanana Zhou said the development was timely as Mberengwa had a poor road network which was worsened by Cyclone Dineo which damaged some roads last year.
Zhou said improved road infrastructure was one of the key priority areas of development in Mberengwa. He said the West Nicholson road is of great economic value to Mberengwa District and the Midlands Province at large.
"We are happy that the new dispensation has committed itself to improving the road network in Mberengwa. The road also passes through my constituency and this will definitely ease transport woes that have for long been bedevilling the people of Mberengwa.
The situation was worsened by floods which we experienced last year due to incessant rains. Also now that the road will also be the shortest route to Beitbridge, it will also bring business to Mberengwa due to increased traffic," he said.
Zhou said Mberengwa-Mataga also passes through Mnene Mission Hospital which is one of the biggest referral hospitals in Mberengwa.
Mberengwa-West Nicholson Road, which will have tarmac, will become the shortest route linking Gweru and Beitbridge.
The distance between Mberengwa and West Nicholson is 98 kilometres. If completed, haulage trucks and buses going to Zambia are likely to use the route as it reduces distance by close to 100 kilometres.
In an interview, Midlands provincial road engineer, Engineer Stephen Kamutema said work on the project has already started after the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development availed $19 million.
"We have started constructing two roads in Mberengwa. The other road links Mberengwa and Mataga and the other one links West Nicholson and Mberengwa. We will put tarmac on 20km on the road that links West Nicholson and Mberengwa which will cost about $11 million and 15km on the one linking Mberengwa Office and Mataga which will cost about $9 million. These are massive projects," he said.
Zhou said improved road infrastructure was one of the key priority areas of development in Mberengwa. He said the West Nicholson road is of great economic value to Mberengwa District and the Midlands Province at large.
"We are happy that the new dispensation has committed itself to improving the road network in Mberengwa. The road also passes through my constituency and this will definitely ease transport woes that have for long been bedevilling the people of Mberengwa.
The situation was worsened by floods which we experienced last year due to incessant rains. Also now that the road will also be the shortest route to Beitbridge, it will also bring business to Mberengwa due to increased traffic," he said.
Zhou said Mberengwa-Mataga also passes through Mnene Mission Hospital which is one of the biggest referral hospitals in Mberengwa.
Source - zimpapers
