Zimpapers Logo

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Construction and engineering companies in Masvingo are eyeing opportunities to participate in the widening of the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu US$2,7 billion Highway project, an official has said.

This comes in the wake of reports that work for the road-widening venture covering 971km has started, and it is divided into three sections.

The sections are Beitbridge-Harare, which is 570km of road and toll plazas, the Harare-Chirundu section stretching for up to 342km of road and six toll plazas and lastly the Harare Ring Road covering 59km with three toll plazas.

Five companies have been contracted to undertake the project which is set to be completed by 2023.

In an interview yesterday, Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister  Ezra Chadzamira said his office was inundated with inquiries on the dualisation project on a daily basis, with more than eight companies having made enquiries.

“I have received inquiries from more than eight companies so far looking for a stake in the project of widening the Beitbridge-Harare Highway and they stampede for consideration,” said Minister Chadzamira.

He said his office’s role was merely to recommend, and not hiring companies for the project.

“My office just recommends and does not hire. The hiring is entirely done by the contractors on the ground, but we expect our local companies to form consortiums so that they can be able to be considered as the work lying ahead is enormous,” he said.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Biggie Matiza said Government was committed to addressing challenges to do with poor road network, adding that the widening of the highway would reduce road carnage considerably.