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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
MBERENGWA North Member of Parliament Cde Tafanana Zhou has applauded Government for the road infrastructure upgrading project in the area, where the Treasury availed more than $19 million for road reconstruction.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development recently embarked on a massive road construction project which links Mberengwa and West Nicholson in Matabeleland South and another linking Mberengwa and Mataga.

Mberengwa-West Nicholson Road, which will have tarmac, will become the shortest route linking Gweru and Beitbridge.

Once completed, haulage trucks and buses going to Zambia are likely to use the route as it reduces distance by close to 100km.

The Mberengwa-Mataga Road will also have tarmac.

Cde Zhou said the development was timely in that Mberengwa had a poor road network which was worsened by Cyclone Dineo which ripped through the country last year and left a trail of destruction in the Midlands.

He said the road reconstruction had made areas that were previously inaccessible accessible, particularly public health institutions.

Cde Zhou said the upgrading of the Mberengwa road infrastructure was a clear commitment by Government to ensure that there is improved access to health facilities, education and networking in general.

He said there were mining activities in Mberengwa that had potential to contribute towards economic development of the country and the improved road infrastructure will also enable access to the resources and easy transportation.

“There is gold, emerald, chrome, platinum, iron and many other minerals in Mberengwa. These resources attract a lot of miners and investors.

“The upgrading of the road infrastructure enables easy access to the resources and transportation. These roads that are being reconstructed by Government are of great economic value. Most people were failing to access big referral health institutions such as Mnene. Now that Government is constructing that road, it means the areas that had been disconnected before as a result of the floods which damaged most roads will be reconnected,” he said.

Midlands provincial road engineer, Engineer Stephen Kamutema said work on the project had already started.

“We have started constructing two roads in Mberengwa. The other road links Mberengwa and Mataga and the other one links West Nicholson and Mberengwa. We will put tarmac on 20km on the road that links West Nicholson and Mberengwa, which will cost about $11 million and 15km on the one linking Mberengwa Office and Mataga. These are massive projects,” he said.