While work on the 750 km road has been ongoing piecemeal, including pothole patching under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) to improve the road network linking the country’s tourism capital, Victoria Falls, the government is on record indicating that construction of a new highway is the permanent solution.

 

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere told the media on Tuesday that the government has reached an agreement with Bitumen World to rehabilitate the road on Design, Build, Operate and Transfer arrangement.

“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,” said Dr Muswere.

“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.”

Work on these roads is expected to start immediately.

New Ziana