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Modern homes for old Gwanda Road displaced families
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The reconstruction of the 120km Old Gwanda Road in Matabeleland South has begun, bringing significant benefits to the region while also necessitating the relocation of 42 families. The project, valued at US$150 million, includes modern road infrastructure, fuel stations, toll gates, and a rural shopping mall, all set to boost the local economy and tourism sector.
The Government and Zwane Enterprise signed a Concession Agreement last week, marking the official start of the ambitious road upgrade. The redesigned road aims to facilitate better access to markets, improve local business conditions, and enhance tourism in the area, which is home to several popular tourist attractions.
Matopo High School headmaster, Mr. Gardson Sibanda, expressed optimism about the project, highlighting how the improved road would reduce vehicle damage and increase efficiency for the school's operations. The existing gravel road, which passes through the school, has been problematic due to frequent damage during the rainy season, leading to expensive repairs and disruptions.
Under the project, 15 homesteads, eight graves, and one community borehole in Chief Masuku's area (Matobo District) will be relocated, as well as 15 homesteads, two graves, and a kraal in Chief Mathe's area (Umzingwane District), and 12 homesteads, 14 graves, a shop, and a bar in Chief Mathema's area (Gwanda District). In return, each relocated family will receive a new home complete with modern amenities, including solar power, solar-powered boreholes, a 5,000-litre water tank, and a range of other facilities designed to improve their living conditions.
Zwane Enterprise CEO, Engineer Bekithemba Mbambo, revealed the designs for the new homes, which will feature four to eight rooms, a farm garage, storeroom, fowl run with solar lights, a grass-thatched kitchen hut, a gazebo for cooking and relaxation, a Blair toilet, bathroom, septic tank, and updated cattle kraals. The homes will also include security features such as fences, gates, and street lights. Additionally, relocated families will receive orchards and extra three-acre crop fields if they lose part of their farms during relocation.
Eng. Mbambo confirmed that a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the 42 homesteads will take place on Saturday, marking the official start of the process. "Most homesteads should be complete by the end of June," he added, also mentioning plans to collaborate with a local institution to train builders from the community and provide them with certificates upon completion.
Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, will preside over the ground-breaking ceremony. Community leaders have expressed excitement over the project's transformative impact.
Ntunjambili village head, Mr. Nkosana Moyo, praised the redesign, noting that farmers in the region have long needed reliable road access for their business activities. "The community has been informed of the new models that will be constructed, and we are satisfied with how the project will be implemented," Mr. Moyo said. He acknowledged that although Zwane Enterprise had initially disappeared after presenting the project in 2022, communication resumed last year, and the community is now well-informed about the relocation process.
Village development committee member, Mr. Micah Moyo, emphasized the importance of the new road network for business growth. "With a better road network, we expect more development as more people use the road, which is good for business," he said.
For Matopo High School, the road construction project is a welcome development. "We are very excited that the Government is putting a tarred road passing through our school. The road we are using is very bad. When it rains, it is usually severely damaged, and it's a mammoth task to drive on," said Mr. Sibanda. He added that the school has had to use its own resources to grade the road, diverting funds intended for textbooks and boarding food.
The new road is also expected to significantly enhance cellphone network coverage, bringing further benefits to the region. The road's completion will open up new opportunities for local businesses, tourism, and infrastructure development, marking a new chapter for the communities along the Old Gwanda Road.
The Government and Zwane Enterprise signed a Concession Agreement last week, marking the official start of the ambitious road upgrade. The redesigned road aims to facilitate better access to markets, improve local business conditions, and enhance tourism in the area, which is home to several popular tourist attractions.
Matopo High School headmaster, Mr. Gardson Sibanda, expressed optimism about the project, highlighting how the improved road would reduce vehicle damage and increase efficiency for the school's operations. The existing gravel road, which passes through the school, has been problematic due to frequent damage during the rainy season, leading to expensive repairs and disruptions.
Under the project, 15 homesteads, eight graves, and one community borehole in Chief Masuku's area (Matobo District) will be relocated, as well as 15 homesteads, two graves, and a kraal in Chief Mathe's area (Umzingwane District), and 12 homesteads, 14 graves, a shop, and a bar in Chief Mathema's area (Gwanda District). In return, each relocated family will receive a new home complete with modern amenities, including solar power, solar-powered boreholes, a 5,000-litre water tank, and a range of other facilities designed to improve their living conditions.
Zwane Enterprise CEO, Engineer Bekithemba Mbambo, revealed the designs for the new homes, which will feature four to eight rooms, a farm garage, storeroom, fowl run with solar lights, a grass-thatched kitchen hut, a gazebo for cooking and relaxation, a Blair toilet, bathroom, septic tank, and updated cattle kraals. The homes will also include security features such as fences, gates, and street lights. Additionally, relocated families will receive orchards and extra three-acre crop fields if they lose part of their farms during relocation.
Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, will preside over the ground-breaking ceremony. Community leaders have expressed excitement over the project's transformative impact.
Ntunjambili village head, Mr. Nkosana Moyo, praised the redesign, noting that farmers in the region have long needed reliable road access for their business activities. "The community has been informed of the new models that will be constructed, and we are satisfied with how the project will be implemented," Mr. Moyo said. He acknowledged that although Zwane Enterprise had initially disappeared after presenting the project in 2022, communication resumed last year, and the community is now well-informed about the relocation process.
Village development committee member, Mr. Micah Moyo, emphasized the importance of the new road network for business growth. "With a better road network, we expect more development as more people use the road, which is good for business," he said.
For Matopo High School, the road construction project is a welcome development. "We are very excited that the Government is putting a tarred road passing through our school. The road we are using is very bad. When it rains, it is usually severely damaged, and it's a mammoth task to drive on," said Mr. Sibanda. He added that the school has had to use its own resources to grade the road, diverting funds intended for textbooks and boarding food.
The new road is also expected to significantly enhance cellphone network coverage, bringing further benefits to the region. The road's completion will open up new opportunities for local businesses, tourism, and infrastructure development, marking a new chapter for the communities along the Old Gwanda Road.
Source - The Chronicle
