Government spends ZiG4.2 billion on road projects

New Ziana- Government has spent ZiG4.2 billion on high-impact transport infrastructure projects during the first half of this year, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday.

Presenting the mid-term budget statement in Parliament, Ncube said notable progress has been made in major road projects including the Harare- Beitbridge Highway upgrade and construction of the Mbudzi Interchange in the capital, among others.

“The focus of the 2024 National Budget on transport is to enhance access and connectivity of various sectors of the economy, including the promotion of regional and international trade, and high-impact projects. In this regard, the Government registered notable progress in major roads projects including the Harare – Beitbridge highway upgrade, Mbudzi Interchange construction, Harare – Kanyemba Road upgrade and projects under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme.

“In total, ZiG4.2 billion was disbursed during the first six months of the year towards transport infrastructure projects,” he said.

The government is rehabilitating three main access roads leading to the venue of the Southern African Development Community Summit of Heads of State and Government in August this year, the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, including the internal circulation roads.

These include the Harare-Chirundu Road, Harare-Kanyemba Road and the Old Mazowe Road.

Rehabilitation of the Harare-Chirundu Road is ongoing and the scope of works includes construction, landscaping and street lighting of the section of Julius Nyerere Street from the Main Post Office in the Central Business District to the intersection of Sam Nujoma Extension and Nemakonde Road (formerly Lomagundi), and along Nemakonde Road to the Westgate Traffic Circle (roundabout).

Meanwhile, Ncube said to facilitate smooth hosting of the SADC Summit, US$1.5 million has been disbursed towards upgrading of existing fibre network, establishing base stations and telecommunications services through service providers which include Telone, Africom and Netone.