HARARE – The government has agreed terms Bitumen World to begin reconstruction works on major parts of the heavily damaged Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road under a partnership that will see the renowned civil engineering company recoup its costs through road toll fees.
This was announced Tuesday by Information Minister Jenfan Muswere at a post-cabinet media briefing in Harare after Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona had appraised cabinet on plans to rehabilitate the strategic highway.
“Cabinet advises that plans are underway to upgrade, rehabilitate, widen, and dualise certain sections of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road through a Public-Private Partnership with Bitumen World (Pvt) Ltd under a Design, Build, Operate, and Transfer contract,” Muswere said.
“The rehabilitation and reconstruction of the road will enhance the movement of transit traffic, thereby making this route the most preferred along the North South Corridor, connecting Zimbabwe to South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.
“In addition, financial arrangements have been concluded for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of other roads including Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane Road; Bulawayo-Nkayi Road; and Karoi-Binga Cross Dete Road. All these roads will start immediately.”
However, it is the rehabilitation of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road that would be welcomed the most as the road is an essential route for trade and tourism in the region.
Victoria Falls is the country’s flagship tourism destination attracting both locals and foreign visitors all year round.
However, the deplorable state of the road has been seen as a big put-off for a lot of prospective visitors who wish to access the touristy region by road.
The rehabilitation of the road will also increase national access to Hwange National Game Park, the country’s biggest wildlife habitat.
With the road restored to a much trafficable state, it is hoped, this will attract more vehicular traffic and a corresponding increase in tollgate fees.
Last month, Chief director responsible for roads in the transport ministry, Engineer David Jana said frequent pothole patching has not been working after trucks carrying coal have continued to damage the road, especially during the rain season.
“The road has over lived its usefulness,” he told the Parliamentary portfolio committee on transport and infrastructural development.
Equally, ministry secretary, engineer Joy Makumbe admitted before the same committee that the road was beyond pothole patching, hence the decision to engage a contractor to perform some reconstruction works.
