The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
TRADITIONAL leaders and villagers living along the 100km stretch from Tanganda to Checheche in Chipinge applauded Government for the timely completion of the second phase of the Tanganda-Ngundu Road rehabilitation project.
Chief Vusani Musikavanhu of Chipinge said the completion of the project will certainly bring relief to motorists using the highway as well as villagers living in areas along the road.
“This is a welcome development to us given that the bad state of the road caused a number of fatal accidents. Motorist using this road will surely heave a huge sigh of relief.
“Remember we produce a number of commodities that need to be transported to other areas like Mutare or Harare but the state of the road was militating against smooth transportation of these commodities.
“Now that it is in a good state, we will surely witness an increase in production levels in different trades,” he said.
Headman Mwafisheni Chikwawa thanked Government for showing commitment towards improvement of the lives of its people.
“This is a clear indication that the Government is committed to improving the livelihoods of its people. This road was a danger not only to motorists but also to people living in areas along the highway as they were left to inhale a lot of dust.
“We really want to thank the Government for living by its words and making sure the quality of life in marginalised areas like the remote parts of Chipinge is also improved,” he said.
Gondai Simango of Mabhiza Village said cotton farmers in the area will no longer have transportation challenges with the refurbishment of the road.
“As you are aware, we have a lot of cotton farmers in this area and they were having challenges in transporting their produce owing to the state of the road.
“Now that the road is in a good state, I think it will ease the burden and improve their operations,” he said.
Machimwase Mafongoyo of Rimbi Village said they were being charged exorbitant transport fees owing to the state of the road.
“When the state of the road deteriorated, motorists started charging exorbitant transport fees.
“Their argument was that they are incurring huge costs in maintaining their vehicles owing to the state of the road. We are happy that the road has been repaired and we are now paying reasonable fees for transport,” she said.
President Emerson Mnangagwa on Monday officially opened the US$20 million rehabilitated Tanganda-Ngundu highway, in a development expected to spur economic activity as we all as bring relief to villagers in the three constituencies that the road cuts across.
The road, which was badly damaged due to years of neglect, links Manicaland and Masvingo provinces via Chiredzi.
The road also links the Eastern Highlands to South Africa, Zimbabwe’s major trading partner.
The total scope of the project was 85km, from the 188km peg to the 273km peg.
The initial 30km was done between February 12, 2018 and April 10, 2018. A further 55km was done from February 12, 2019 to June 7 this year.
