HARARE – The government will compensate owners of 135 properties which are set to be destroyed during the construction of the Mbudzi traffic interchange in Harare.
The engineering works will encroach residential and commercial properties, a development that will see the displacement of property owners around Hopely, Southlea Park and surrounding areas.
Kudzanayi Chinyanga, the permanent secretary in the ministry of transport, said government has completed an evaluation of affected properties.
“There’s a plan to get land for them very quickly and set up core houses for them. We’re dealing with various groups separately, those with title deeds and the ones with leases,” Chinyanga told reporters during a tour on Thursday.
“Those with title deeds will identify properties equivalent to their affected properties. We’ve engaged three evaluators – public works as per government procedure and two other independent evaluators to do their own evaluation.”
He further revealed that the current Mbudzi roundabout will be closed in the next two weeks to pave way for reconstruction.
Mbudzi roundabout is currently swamped with vendors, tuckshops, touts and small businesses who will be removed to pave way for engineering works.
One shop owner, Tapiwanashe Murinda, said he had established a thriving business at the roundabout area.
“It’s going to be tough, we even pay rent to authorities but we’re now chased away from this place,” he said.
Construction of the Mbudzi traffic interchange, a US$85 million project, is now at 21 percent to completion.
The engineering works will have 14 interconnected bridges and bridge-type structures that will regulate traffic flow to various locations such as Chitungwiza, Glen Norah, Harare CBD and Masvingo.
The contract was given to TEFOMA consortium consisting of Tensor Construction, Fossil Contracting and Masimba Holding.
Lawrence Mberikwazvo, one of the three contractors, said five of the 14 bridges are already under construction.
“So far, the engineering works of the whole interchange bridge is at 21 percent in terms of progress,” Mberikwazvo said. “The other bridge to and from Glen Norah and Chitungwiza is 76 percent to completion.”
