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George Maponga in Masvingo
Government intends to upgrade the Kawi-Neshuro road that links Neshuro District Hospital in Mwenezi and the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway in a project expected to gobble over $273 million.

The gravel road was extensively damaged by incessant rains completely cutting off vast swathes of Mwenezi from the district’s biggest health referral centre. The road is more tha 15km long and was a key route for transportation by communities as it linked the rural Mwenezi hinterland and the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway.

Serious and life threatening accidents along the highway were also referred to Neshuro Hospital and the collapse of the Kawi-Neshuro road at the hands of heavy rains had created a serious crisis. Provincial road engineer Robert Mukome disclosed that plans were at an advanced stage to upgrade Kawi-Neshuro road in a development that will see it tarred.

The upgrade works will also include construction of drainage systems in a move tailored to permanently challenges in accessing the road.

“Upgrading work has not started as yet but we have since tabled a budget of $273 million to built tarmac and though that worl has not yet started our teams are already on the ground doing rehabilitation works so that we end the cutting off of some parts of Mwenezi because of damage to the road.”

Mr Mukome noted that Government had resolved that it was better to upgrade the road and permanently end the challenges of road damage associated with roads that are currently experienced in the dirt road.

Besides linking to Neshuro Hospital,the road is also the shortest link to another big health institution in Mwenezi,Matibi Mission.

Communities in northern Mwenezi also rely on the Kawi-Neshuro road to access Maranda and Manyuchi Dam which are key economic hubs as sources of fish and fresh agricultural produce grown under irrigation.