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• Zinara releases $3 million 

• Plans to establish a tollgate

Prosper Ndlovu Business Editor
THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has released about $3 million for the construction of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, one of the major infrastructure projects in Matabeleland North province.

There are indications that a tollgate would be established along the road whose completion has been in limbo for more than two decades.

Motorists and passengers have complained over the dilapidated state of the road, which links Bulawayo with Bubi, Nkayi and Gokwe districts.

About 46km of the 160km stretch to Nkayi Growth Point has to date been widened with the remaining part full of potholes and virtually impassable after years of poor maintenance that saw certain portions being damaged by rains.

The situation has been blamed for the spate of accidents along the route, which have claimed many lives.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Obert Mpofu confirmed commencement of the project but could not disclose more details saying he was in a meeting.

Bubi National Assembly member Clifford Sibanda concurred saying that $3 million has been released to finance the first phase of the project.

He said the government was giving the project serious attention following the intervention of Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

“We’ve agreed that the project should resume and never stop until it’s completed. There are plans to put a tollgate along the road and we want to work on it until we reach Nkayi centre,” said Sibanda.

“VP Mphoko has advised us to involve rural district councils through which this road passes right up to Gokwe and use their borrowing powers to source additional funding for the project.”

Sibanda said success was guaranteed this time through adoption of the public-private partnership (PPPs) approach.

He said his constituency would engage the local mining community in Bubi to also chip in to enhance progress.

“The project began three months ago although there were delays as the contractor waited for Zesa to remove power lines along the planned stretch. The initial phase will cover about 10km (between Queens Business Centre and Turk Mine) and Zinara has released about $3 million for a start,” said Sibanda.

“If councils chip in we’ll be able to cover 100km stretch within a short space of time. Our aim is to assist Zinara and the ministry of transport.

“A round table meeting is on the cards between MPs in concerned constituencies, councils, the business community and the ministry.”

Heavy road construction and earth moving equipment such as excavators, tipper trucks and dozers has been deployed to the road between Queens Business Centre and Turk Mine with scores of people including locals having been recruited.

The place was a hive of activity when the news crew visited on Friday afternoon. Engineers were busy attending to a new bridge across Mbembesi River while others worked on other parts of the road.

Sibanda said a lot of money was used during works at the bridge and hinted that Zinara had pledged to release another $3 million tranche for further progress.

He said dozens of local youths have been employed in the project so far.

Comment could not be obtained from Zinara.

There has been concern over the slow progress in the construction of major roads in Matabeleland region such as Bulawayo-Kezi and Bulawayo-Tsholotsho roads.

The roads have not been maintained for many years. Some economists blame inadequate road infrastructure for scaring away potential investors.

President Mugabe last week said a vibrant development of infrastructure and utilities is one of the 10-point economic turnaround master plan that draws inspiration from the broader government’s blue-print, Zim-Asset.

There is hope for improvement in the cluster after Parliament endorsed the Joint Ventures Bill last week, paving the way for enhanced development.