Contractors resume Nkayi road rehabilitation

Contractors responsible for the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road and the road leading to the Khami Prison Complex on the outskirts of the city have deployed their teams on-site to resume work. The Government, in collaboration with Umguza Rural District Council, has already initiated maintenance grading works, with 6km of the 12km stretch from the main prison entrance towards Bulawayo having been completed.

During a visit to the site by a Chronicle news crew, a grader operator was observed widening and leveling the road. On Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, the contractor, who had abandoned the site for several months, has begun improving the detour near Turk Mine to allow motorists to move smoothly while main roadworks are underway.

According to Matebeleland North Road engineer Eng Xolani Ncube, the scope of work on the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road will cover 14km. The rehabilitation of this road is viewed as an economic enabler that connects Bubi, Nkayi, and Kwekwe districts.

The government is prioritizing the upgrading of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, as part of its broader effort to improve road infrastructure across the country. The project was initiated in 1993, and it is now a top priority, responding to stakeholder concerns about the extended timeline for its completion.

Plans are also in progress to transform the Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane Road into a major highway to boost trade, commerce, tourism, and social communication in the region.

The rehabilitation of the road leading to Khami Prison Complex began last week, following the intervention of Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matebeleland North, Richard Moyo. The road was identified as one of the top priority roads in the province and is crucial for prison operations and community use. It is also used for transporting inmates to and from the courts. The rehabilitation work is part of the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2).