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Herald Reporter

RECONSTRUCTION work on Seke Road under Government’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP2) has gone past Maruta Shopping Centre in Hatfield. 

Yesterday the contractor, Bitumen World, was working on a stretch past Maruta Shopping Centre and was by Vital Logistics warehouse.

Road construction falls under the infrastructure clusters and roads are regarded as key economic enablers in the attainment of Vision 2030, that of achieving an upper middle income society. 

Seke Road, which stretches from Harare Central to Chitungwiza, is a nerve centre of traffic and has been in bad shape for some time, especially the stretch from Coke Corner onwards, which had become a death trap for motorists and commuters. 

Our news crew yesterday witnessed an assortment of state of the art road-construction machinery and Bitumen World workers working on the stretch.

Motorists yesterday commended the Government for spearheading developmental programmes such as the rehabilitation of the Seke Road, with some also making calls for the project to stretch up to Chitungwiza.

The New Dispensation under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa is committed to working towards infrastructure development and creating employment for the locals.

Mr Richard Rubaya, a motorist from Chitungwiza, commended the Government for hiring reputable construction companies such as Bitumen World for the rehabilitation of one of the capital’s busiest roads.

“We are really appreciating Governments efforts in rehabilitating major roads which link with the capital Harare. We are witnessing Bitumen World workers doing what they know best here at Vital Logistics area. They have state of the art machinery to carry the task.

“This is commendable. Zimbabwe will soon be a jewel of Africa under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, who is a listening leader,’’ said Mr Rubaya.

Another motorist from St Mary’s suburb, Mr Andrew Vanashe, said the Government should consider reconstructing the entire stretch to Chitungwiza.

“The Government should repair the road up to Chitungwiza.

A Seke resident, Mrs Mercy Sithole, said the road should even be extended up to Ziko shops. 

“The completed stretch is a marvel to travel on, and I heartily welcome the upgrade,” she said.

A female motorist in a South-African registered car who requested anonymity said she was she surprised that the pothole-riddled parts of the road from Coke Corner have now disappeared.

“The upgraded stretch is no different from the N1 highway in South Africa,” she said. 

As roads upgrade gathers pace, the Government has since engaged contractors to start work on the badly damaged Masotsha Ndlovu Way in Harare, while other roads are at different stages of completion.

Transport and Infrastructure Development Deputy Minister Mike Madiro toured the road to assess progress last week.

“The ERRP2 is progressing very well. Here at Seke Road, the state of disrepair was beyond imagination and the Government through our President and his team, the Cabinet, decided to intervene after local authorities had failed to repair roads due to various reasons, and here we are.

“The progress here at Seke Road is 60 percent and within three months we are going to complete this road,” said Deputy Minister Madiro.

Deputy Minister Madiro said many other roads under the ERRP2 were well on course.

“In Harare, Campbell Road is already 90 percent complete and Epworth Road also 40 percent in terms of work in progress. Masotsha Ndlovu Way is in near state of disrepair. What we are doing now is identifying a suitable a contractor to make sure that the road is sorted.”