The government has so far pumped US$45 million into the construction of the Mbudzi traffic interchange, which is now 55 percent complete and scheduled to be completed by July 31 this year.
So far, the government has also compensated 42 out of 52 property owners at a cost of about US$14.8 million leaving only US$14.9 million remaining.
On the other hand, 95 affected families will be moved to Hatcliffe where houses will be built for them.
The Old Mbudzi Roundabout was a major choke point for vehicular traffic in South Harare before the government allocated resources to transform it into an intersection, as the Second Republic continues to modernize infrastructure to keep pace with modern demands and trends.
Some of the benefits of the project include alleviating congestion in the Mbudzi area by creating streamlined and efficient traffic flow and reducing transit time and accidents in the area.
The project creates direct employment opportunities for more than 700 employees and subsidiary activities for thousands more, while providing skills transfer and upgrading for road department staff.
Yesterday, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Felix Muna, his deputy Joshua Sako, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Delegation Charles Tafenjwa and senior government officials led the media on a tour of the interchange.
“It is a pleasure to finally be here. What we are doing is not new, what you see today has been happening since time immemorial. We have embarked on this journey, and what is most important is that what we have witnessed today emanates from Zimbabweans, just like President Mnangagwa’s slogan,” “Nyika Inuvakwa Nevini Vayu.” And that is exactly what we say. I have seen the business and all the workers.
“And I’m happy because contrary to what you’ve been hearing in the media, it’s been two years now or so and we’ve been progressing very well,” he said.
Minister Mahona said the purpose of the tour was to provide the nation with updates on the project.
“So I thought it was absolutely necessary as a ministry to engage the media, the fourth estate so that we show what His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is doing in the Second Republic, which we do not showcase, we do not project politically but we are here to provide services and that is what we do.”
He said Zimbabwe is connected with various countries such as Malawi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Mozambique and hence there is a need for a world-class road network.
The Minister denied the false and tendentious news being circulated on social media about the waste of project funds.
“We do not have what is called the Mbudzi Exchange Compensation Fund. We are mobilizing and communicating with the treasury if it is property that needs to be compensated. As we speak out of 52 people, 42 people have been partially and fully compensated,” Minister Mhuna said.
The Minister also explained the entire processes that took place during compensation through the Ministry of Local Government, which carries out evaluations.
“I am glad you have seen the infrastructure and we are progressing well, by July 31 this year, we should have our interchange,” Minister Mhuna said.
Fossil Contracting Chief Operating Officer Engineer Kudakwash Maguta also said: “Mbudzi Interchange is a graded interchange consisting of 15 bridges. Of the 15 bridges, 13 are on the interchange and two are off-site at Amalinda Drive and Harare Drive. The bridges on the interchange, approx. Six bridges are largely complete, namely Bridge Two, Bridge Six, Bridge Eight, Bridge 10, Bridge 11 and 12, and all the others are at an advanced stage. Some are up to 40 percent but the majority are now more than 60 percent.
“So we are comfortably out of the woods, and are now out of the ground with most of the concrete structures. Overall, for all the concrete works of the 15 bridges, our progress is 77 percent for all the concrete structures.
The US$88 million Mbudzi Interchange is located at the intersection of Simon Mazurudzi Road, Chitungwiza Road and High Glen Road in Harare.
The project is being financed through local financial institutions, while the project contractor is a joint venture between three local road construction companies: Tensor Systems, Fossil Contracting and Masimba Construction, which collectively fall under the Tefoma Construction joint venture banner. Announce
