Shongedzai Mugwagwa
Government through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has stepped up rehabilitation programmes of major roads across the country with the latest being the 81 kilometre stretch on Dotito-Mukumbura Highway, the Harare Post can report.
The highway will unlock so much economic value to the country as it will open the border for trading purposes to the people of Matusadonha.
During a tour by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Joel Biggie Matiza yesterday, the Harare Post learnt that the highway that links Mashonaland Central, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania was neglected for long.
In interviews, the locals expressed concern over the delayed construction of the road which they said isolated the province and the people of Dotito from real development.
Hon Matiza told the Harare Post that the he was impressed by the road construction that has taken place in the new dispensation.
“We are supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of turning the country into a middle income economy and therefore we are constructing new roads and managing the already existing roads.
“I am pleased by the level of commitment exhibited by the workers in making sure that the highway to Mukumbura border post has come to fruition,” said Matiza.
Activity in this area has been depressed due to the bad state of the road network.
Before, residents paid exorbitant transport fares to reach Dotito or Mukumbura border posts forcing them to walk long distance.
Meanwhile, Zinara board Chairman Engineer Mike Madanha said that he was happy with the developmental work being supervised by Zinara. He added that the Dotito-Mukumbura highway was funded by the Ministry of Finance and Zinara.
In an interview, the locals said the road would open economic floodgates for the people of Matusadonha as they will be able to travel to Zambia and Mozambique with fewer problems. The route is the shortest that connects Zimbabwe with Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique and therefore, traffic volume will be increased.
