Mnangagwa govt abandons complete dualisation of Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu highway

GOVERNMENT has abandoned the controversial $2,7 billion deal with Chinese firm Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group Limited (Afecc) for the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare-Chirundu highway after the company expressed concern over how it would recoup its investment.

The government today said the Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare-Chirundu Highway highways dualisation will now be fixed in 2 phases that will see some parts of the road being widened, while others parts will be dualised.

Government said that dualisation will be carried out as one enters and exits towns in order to manage congestion. The dualisation would be for 10km on both sides of the towns.

Let's talks about the Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare-Chirundu Highway rehabilitation and dualisation. The Highway will now be fixed in 2 phases that will see some parts of the road being widened, while others parts will be dualised #TSP #Vision2030 pic.twitter.com/nYsxRMGsfK

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) October 31, 2018

Feasibility studies have indicated that the complete dualisation of the Highway is not viable because traffic volumes are not sufficient for the project to recoup it's costs. The entire Highway would require 6k vehicles daily, paying tolls fees at each of the 7 tollgates

Feasibility studies have indicated that the complete dualisation of the Highway is not viable because traffic volumes are not sufficient for the project to recoup it's costs. The entire Highway would require 6k vehicles daily, paying tolls fees at each of the 7 tollgates #TSP pic.twitter.com/qBxr1SLvc6

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) October 31, 2018

Presently, traffic on the Beitbridge - Masvingo - Harare Highway is about 2 600 vehicles per day while on the Harare - Chirundu Highway it's 1 040 vehicles per day. In light of this, the best course of action is to widen most parts of the road.

Presently, traffic on the Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare Highway is about 2 600 vehicles per day while on the Harare-Chirundu Highway it's 1040 vehicles per day. In light of this, the best course of action is to widen most parts of the road #TSP #Vision2030 pic.twitter.com/cBPQul6Nwm

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) October 31, 2018

The road is on a 8/10 configuration whereby 8m of the road is tarred while 2m is the gravel shoulder. The road will be widened to make it 12.5m in width. Making it at par with the Beitbridge - Polokwane and Chirundu - Lusaka Highways which have similar configurations. The Polokwane - Beitbridge road has seen an increase in the number of accidents because it is not wide enough.

The road is on a 8/10 configuration whereby 8m of the road is tarred while 2m is the gravel shoulder. The road will be widened to make it 12.5m in width. Making it at par with the Beitbridge-Polokwane and Chirundu-Lusaka Highways which have similar configurations #TSP #Vision2030 pic.twitter.com/UMPE2aNHmN

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) October 31, 2018

Dualisation will be carried out as one enters and exits towns in order to manage congestion. The dualisation would be on 10km on both sides of the towns. On the Harare-Chirundu Highway, work will be carried out to straighten some of the curves.

Dualisation will be carried out as one enters and exits towns in order to manage congestion. The dualisation would be on 10km on both sides of the towns. On the Harare-Chirundu Highway, work will be carried out to straighten some of the curves. #TSP #VISION2030 pic.twitter.com/JyBlb5sqsN

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) October 31, 2018