Major roads in Harare have been closed for large-scale rehabilitation operations ahead of the 44th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) scheduled to be held in Harare in August.
At least 40 larger roads in and around the city have been prepared for the rehabilitation process led by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development.
Yesterday, there was congestion on major roads in the capital such as Julius Nyerere Avenue, Samora Machel Avenue, Abdul Jamal Nasir Avenue and Leopold Takowira Avenue as construction companies were hard at work.
The road infrastructure where the ministry will apply a layer of asphalt concrete includes Samora Machel (Jagers Roundabout to Kuwadzana Roundabout), Dieppe Roundabout, Glenara/Samora Junction, Glenara/ED Mnangagwa Road, Chiremba (via Braeside), Robert Mugabe/Abdul Jamal Nasser, Josiah Tongogara, Jaggers Roundabout in Harare, Lomagundi Road (selected sections), Simon Muzinda/Robert Mugabe Street junction with Tongogara Road, and Simon Muzinda/Robert Mugabe Street junction with Tongogara Road.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed the developments and said it expects the procurement process for Greater Harare Roads to be completed and work to begin before March 31, 2024.
“The Republic of Zimbabwe will host the 44th Summit of Heads of State and Government of SADC in August this year,” the statement read.
“As part of the preparatory works, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development has been tasked with constructing and rehabilitating road infrastructure to facilitate the efficient and smooth flow of delegates and citizens during the summit. The Ministry has commenced a procurement process for the above-mentioned Greater Harare Roads to engage Category A compliant contractors to participate in the tender through competitive bidding. To ensure there is value for money.
“The SADC Summit road construction works include the urban section of the Harare-Chirundo Road Project from Julius Nyerere Road to Westgate Traffic Circle (2nd Street and Lomagundi Road), which is being rehabilitated, widened and dualised and includes street lighting and landscaping.
“The Ministry has directed the contractor to allocate this section of the Harare-Chirundu Road Project, to Fossil Contracting, to immediately prioritize completion of works on or before 31 July 2024.”
The Harare-Chirundu road was approved by Cabinet last year in May, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 2, 2024, the ministry said.
Furthermore, the Ministry also directed Exodus and Company executing the Harare-Kanyimba Road project to prioritize the urban section from Lumagundi intersection with 2nd Street to the main entrance of New Parliament Street.
This section is scheduled to be duplicated and rehabilitated to include street lighting and landscaping and will be completed on or before July 31, 2024.
“Finally, in accordance with the Cabinet approval obtained in April 2023 for Bitumen International to construct the North-South Corridor Link and the new main entrances to Parliament, the Ministry has directed Bitumen International to prioritize the main entrances to the new Parliament including street lighting and landscaping which also need to be completed.” On or before July 31, 2024.
“The ongoing works demonstrate the Ministry’s commitment to making tangible progress towards infrastructure development and ensuring satisfactory road infrastructure in support of the SADC Summit in August. The Ministry is also embarking on the rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction of roads in the country to enhance traffic and produce a modern way of roads as good road infrastructure is one of the The fundamental pillars that support economic development, an efficient transportation system is critical for trade, investment, and connectivity,” the statement said.
The ministry declared zero tolerance for potholes and said it would continue the path of infrastructure development that has seen various teams in the provinces carry out massive pothole patching work.
This development also follows the commencement of construction of about 26 kilometers of access roads in the Mount Hampden area through government contracts to connect the New Parliament House, Bindura Road and other surrounding areas and ease expected congestion in northwest Harare.
Bitumen World, which is conducting the works, is now at the site, building about 13km of the Old Mazowe Road from the Westgate roundabout with all roads expected to be completed by July 31 this year.
After constructing the 13-kilometre road, the government will later this year rebuild the other part of the road leading to Mazowe, linking it to Bindura Road.
Another road currently under construction is the 7-kilometre-long street that runs from Bindura Road directly to the new Parliament House.
It will have eight tracks (four on the right side and four on the left side) and it will all be done by the middle of the year.
Others are the 4.7 km long crescent around Parliament and a 2 km long road that also leads to the new Parliament building.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Felix Muna, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Delegation for Greater Harare Province Charles Tafenjwa and other government officials recently conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of roads at Mount Hampden. Announce
