Bulawayo- The rehabilitation of the Bulawayo–Kezi–Maphisa and Bulawayo–Gwanda–Maphisa road corridors is a clear demonstration of the “transformative impact” of the national Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP), the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Hon. Adv. Felix Tapiwa Mhona has said.

Minister Mhona made the remarks while leading a media tour of the road rehabilitation projects, Thursday in Maphisa where this year’s Uhuru celebrations will be held on April 18. The tour was also conducted together with Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, Hon. Albert Nguluvhe (MP), government engineers, contractors, and officials from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA).

The tour was conducted to provide journalists and stakeholders with direct insight into the scale and progress of works currently underway on the 114-kilometre strategic road network linking Bulawayo- Kezi and Maphisa.

Said Minister Mhona:

“Today we are witnessing the work ethic of the 2nd republic, which shows that we are here to deliver for the betterment of Zimbabwe.

We are not only showcasing this for an event, but it is rebuilding our nation.We are not here because we are moving towards independence. No. It is independence thereafter. For the people of Matabeleland, they have been saying we are marginalised, but I tend to differ. The president’s mantra is that we are leaving no- one and no place behind. This means we are doing this for the betterment of our people.:

Addressing journalists, Engineer Mangisi Nkomo, the Provincial Roads Engineer for Matabeleland South, outlined the scope of the project, which involves a combination of road reconstruction and asphalt overlay tailored to the condition of specific sections.

According to Engineer Nkomo, the works commence at 23rd Avenue in the Bulawayo Metropolitan area, where Zada Construction is handling approximately 5 kilometres of reconstruction and asphalt overlay. Asphalt Products is undertaking overlay works from the 8-kilometre peg to the 24-kilometre peg, with around 5 kilometres already completed.

The most extensive phase of the project is a 63-kilometre reconstruction stretch from the 34-kilometre peg to the 98-kilometre peg. This section has been divided into seven segments of about 9 kilometres each to accelerate progress by allowing multiple firms to work concurrently. Contractors involved in this phase include Derivative Resources, Geoflakes, JR Goddard, Troling Civil Engineers, Baidu, Masimba Holdings, and Mosapis.

Further works include a 16.4-kilometre asphalt overlay from the 98-kilometre peg to Maphisa, being carried out by Masimba Holdings. A 6-kilometre reconstruction section near the Matobo/Maphisa junction is being undertaken by Dikub Construction.

Officials noted that international technical partners, including Baidu, are involved in the project, providing contractor training and technical support to enhance local capacity and ensure compliance with required engineering standards.

Director of Roads in the Ministry of Transport, Engineer J.S. Kangara, welcomed participants and acknowledged the presence of Chief Director for Roads Engineer D.T.C. Jana and other key officials.