Mhona vows to fully decongest Harare, Zim's highways

Zimbabwe's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Felix Mhona, reaffirms the government's commitment to decongesting major highways, including the Mutare highway, by establishing interchanges at strategic locations.


Speaking in Harare during a tour of the Mabvuku Interchange, Minister Mhona announced that the government has made a choice of choosing infrastructural development realities rather than rhetorics, the Second Republic's quest being to implementing a comprehensive network of interchanges across Harare and entirety of the country's road networks.

"As the government under the able leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Second Republic administration, we have made a bold choices to take reality development over perceived rhetorics by detractors. We work tirelessly to make sure that we deliver on our government's assignments in our quest to facilitate ease of doing business countrywide and beyond the borders, regionally," Mhona said.

"This project which has commenced aims to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and enhance the overall quality of life for Harare's residents, motorists, established and prospective businesses along the eastern corridor up to the border," he added.

"With these initiatives, government is determined to transform Harare's transportation landscape, thereby making it more reliable, safe and efficient for commuters. As we continue to invest in infrastructure development, residents and motorists should look forward to revolutionarised and convenient travel experience," Mhona promised.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association's (ZBCA) chief executive officer, Joyline Zindaga has called on contractors to adhere to prescribed time-frames in completing assigned national projects.

"Once given a contract to construct any structure (private or public), we urge contractors to adhere to prescribed time-frames and deliver to the best expectations of those in authority. We expect best services as prescribed by the law and professionalism without violating the expected best standards on every infrastructure," Zindaga said.

"We appreciate the pace and cordial relationships existing between government and those involved in construction. As Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association, we urge our membership to prioritise sustainable infrastructural development and to be rewarded accordingly after completion," Zindaga added.

At the Mabvuku turn-off, where construction of an interchange is underway to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, Mhona announced that the Second Republic is committed to addressing the traffic abnormalities (congestion and accidents) through modern engineering solutions, and it (Mabvuku) is the starting point for many more projects.

This statement underscores the government's determination to tackle traffic congestion head-on, utilising innovative infrastructure solutions to enhance the country's transportation network. The Mabvuku Interchange project is part of a broader urban mobility initiative aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing travel times.

Its construction (Mabvuku Interchange) is expected to significantly benefit thousands of motorists using the capital's eastern corridor and according to Minister Mhona, the government is expanding the program to several locations, including Kuwadzana, where a new interchange will link Kirkman Road, Harare Drive and the Chirundu Highway.

The government's efforts to improve road infrastructure are not limited to the Mabvuku Interchange only, but brings in a well-developed road network in facilitating economic growth and development.

Minister Mhona announced plans to build more interchanges in major cities, including Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru, and Masvingo, to improve connectivity and shorten travel times. These upcoming interchanges will be strategically located in high-traffic areas to maximise their impact.

With these initiatives, Zimbabwe is taking significant steps towards modernising its transportation infrastructure, reducing congestion, and enhancing the overall quality of life for its citizens.