News / National
New highway to cut Harare-Victoria Falls trip by 200km
3 hrs ago |
195 Views
Travel between Harare and Victoria Falls is set to become significantly shorter following progress on the long-awaited Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road, a strategic highway expected to reduce the journey by nearly 200 kilometres while opening up new economic opportunities in Matabeleland North and the Midlands.
Construction is already underway, with two contractors on site working on the project, which is being developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Government and local contractor Road Trekkers.
The road, popularly known by local communities as the "Fighting Road" because of decades of lobbying for its construction, is expected to provide motorists travelling from Kwekwe with a direct route to Victoria Falls without having to pass through Bulawayo.
Speaking in an interview, Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo said the project marks a major milestone in the Second Republic's infrastructure development programme.
"Once complete, the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road will give travellers leaving Kwekwe the option of reaching Victoria Falls without passing through Bulawayo, cutting the journey by close to 200 kilometres. This is a long-overdue strategic corridor that has been in the pipeline for years and has now become a reality under the leadership of President Mnangagwa," he said.
The new highway is expected to improve regional connectivity, reduce transport costs, facilitate trade and tourism, and enhance the movement of goods and people between the Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces.
Minister Moyo said the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road forms part of five major road infrastructure projects currently underway or planned for the province.
"The Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, Khami Prison access road and the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road are all progressing well. This demonstrates Government's commitment to improving the road network and stimulating economic development across Matabeleland North Province," he said.
The project is being implemented under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model, which allows private investors to finance, construct and operate the highway for an agreed period before transferring ownership to the Government.
In addition to the road itself, the project will include supporting infrastructure such as toll plazas and weighbridges aimed at improving road management, generating revenue for maintenance and reducing damage caused by overloaded vehicles.
Authorities also expect the project to create employment opportunities during construction while strengthening local engineering and technical capacity.
Attention is also expected to shift to another key transport corridor—the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road—once Government completes the procurement process for contractors.
"The fifth major road project is the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road, which will commence once Government completes the tender process to identify capable contractors," Minister Moyo said.
He added that Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube had assured his office that funding for the project would soon be released.
"Minister Ncube has assured my office that funds for the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road will be availed soon, with contractors expected to be on site by January next year. The road is critical to the province's economy because it carries significant volumes of passenger and commercial traffic," he said.
Meanwhile, local communities have launched their own initiative to improve sections of the deteriorating Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road while awaiting the commencement of the Government-funded project.
Residents, supported by members of the Tsholotsho diaspora, are raising 36,000 litres of diesel to support rehabilitation works.
The community-driven initiative has received support from Government departments, the Tsholotsho and Umguza Rural District Councils, which are providing construction equipment, technical expertise and operational assistance. Traditional leaders have also endorsed the programme.
Organising committee chairperson and Botswana-based businessman Cephas Tshuma said the fundraising campaign had received an encouraging response from both local residents and Zimbabweans living abroad.
"There is tremendous interest in this initiative. We are working closely with Government departments and our traditional leaders, and transparency will guide the entire process," he said.
The rehabilitation programme will focus on a 90-kilometre stretch of road, with works including spot gravelling, shoulder grading and full grading of damaged sections.
Construction teams will work simultaneously from both the Bulawayo and Tsholotsho ends of the route in approximately 23-kilometre sections, while gravel will be stockpiled in advance to ensure continuous operations.
Government believes the road projects will improve access to markets, boost tourism, enhance regional trade and accelerate economic development across Matabeleland North as Zimbabwe continues to modernise its transport infrastructure.
Construction is already underway, with two contractors on site working on the project, which is being developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Government and local contractor Road Trekkers.
The road, popularly known by local communities as the "Fighting Road" because of decades of lobbying for its construction, is expected to provide motorists travelling from Kwekwe with a direct route to Victoria Falls without having to pass through Bulawayo.
Speaking in an interview, Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo said the project marks a major milestone in the Second Republic's infrastructure development programme.
"Once complete, the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road will give travellers leaving Kwekwe the option of reaching Victoria Falls without passing through Bulawayo, cutting the journey by close to 200 kilometres. This is a long-overdue strategic corridor that has been in the pipeline for years and has now become a reality under the leadership of President Mnangagwa," he said.
The new highway is expected to improve regional connectivity, reduce transport costs, facilitate trade and tourism, and enhance the movement of goods and people between the Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces.
Minister Moyo said the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road forms part of five major road infrastructure projects currently underway or planned for the province.
"The Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, Khami Prison access road and the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road are all progressing well. This demonstrates Government's commitment to improving the road network and stimulating economic development across Matabeleland North Province," he said.
The project is being implemented under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model, which allows private investors to finance, construct and operate the highway for an agreed period before transferring ownership to the Government.
In addition to the road itself, the project will include supporting infrastructure such as toll plazas and weighbridges aimed at improving road management, generating revenue for maintenance and reducing damage caused by overloaded vehicles.
Authorities also expect the project to create employment opportunities during construction while strengthening local engineering and technical capacity.
"The fifth major road project is the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road, which will commence once Government completes the tender process to identify capable contractors," Minister Moyo said.
He added that Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube had assured his office that funding for the project would soon be released.
"Minister Ncube has assured my office that funds for the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road will be availed soon, with contractors expected to be on site by January next year. The road is critical to the province's economy because it carries significant volumes of passenger and commercial traffic," he said.
Meanwhile, local communities have launched their own initiative to improve sections of the deteriorating Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road while awaiting the commencement of the Government-funded project.
Residents, supported by members of the Tsholotsho diaspora, are raising 36,000 litres of diesel to support rehabilitation works.
The community-driven initiative has received support from Government departments, the Tsholotsho and Umguza Rural District Councils, which are providing construction equipment, technical expertise and operational assistance. Traditional leaders have also endorsed the programme.
Organising committee chairperson and Botswana-based businessman Cephas Tshuma said the fundraising campaign had received an encouraging response from both local residents and Zimbabweans living abroad.
"There is tremendous interest in this initiative. We are working closely with Government departments and our traditional leaders, and transparency will guide the entire process," he said.
The rehabilitation programme will focus on a 90-kilometre stretch of road, with works including spot gravelling, shoulder grading and full grading of damaged sections.
Construction teams will work simultaneously from both the Bulawayo and Tsholotsho ends of the route in approximately 23-kilometre sections, while gravel will be stockpiled in advance to ensure continuous operations.
Government believes the road projects will improve access to markets, boost tourism, enhance regional trade and accelerate economic development across Matabeleland North as Zimbabwe continues to modernise its transport infrastructure.
Source - the chronicle
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
