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From Luthando Mapepa in Chipinge
The Tanganda-Ngundu Highway, which has become a death trap after claiming several lives in road traffic accidents in recent years due to its bad state, will now be rehabilitated following Government’s securing of $24 million for the project.

The tender to rehabilitate the highway was awarded to Bitumen World, which is expected to start work within the next two weeks.

The road had become so dilapidated that in some instances motorists were being forced to use alternative routes.

The rehabilitation of the road is expected to create employment for locals as well.

House of Assembly member for Chipinge South, Cde Enock Porusingazi, yesterday confirmed the development.

Cde Porusingazi said both skilled and non-skilled personnel, especially the local community would get employed when the project starts.

“It is good news indeed and we are anxious to see its take off,” he said. “It will be the best, biggest and well deserved development for Chipinge.

“We wish and hope the community will benefit during the construction by way of getting jobs or supplying materials and other consumables.

“The project is expected to start very soon and it will be finished before year end. The first attention will be given to the most affected 80 kilometres which stretch from Tanganda to Chisumbanje. Once finished, it will spread to other areas.

“The Ministry of Transport (and Infrastructure Development) has assured us that they awarded an internationally acclaimed company that will undertake the job and we hope the road will be durable.”

Cde Porusingazi said the Tanganda-Ngundu Highway was expected to grow the economy of Chipinge and Zimbabwe at large as it was stationed at a strategic zone.

“The road is located in one of the strategic places and once it is refurbished we hope the economy will start to grow,” he said. “It is one of the busiest roads, especially since one of the biggest companies in the country — Green Fuel — is operating full time.”

The local community had been putting pressure on Green Fuel, whose haulage trucks regularly use the road, to repair it as part of corporate social responsibility.

In 2013, at least 20 people were burnt to death after a Green Fuel haulage truck carrying ethanol collided head on with a T35 truck ferrying mourners.