The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A CHINESE Mining Company, Ming Chang Sino-Africa has partnered with Government to reconstruct Odzi-Save Causeway Road in Odzi.
The move is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programmes.
The company mines gold across the country, including Odzi.
This will see 13,3km of the 57 km road which is currently in a dilapidated state being re-gravelled and widened.
The road links Mutare North with Buhera as well as give gold companies, miners and farmers easier access to markets in Mutare and Harare respectively.
Upon completion, the 57km road in the near future will be used as a Christmas Pass bypass road for trucks going to Marange and Masvingo so they do not pass through Mutare, according to Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Nokuthula Matsikenyere.
However, this will only be made possible through Government’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) which is focusing on road rehabilitation works across the country.
The reconstruction of part of the road will benefit more than 6 000 households and various gold mining companies in the area.
Addressing stakeholders at a ground breaking ceremony held at Vhoiri Farm in Odzi last week on Thursday, Minister Matsikenyere said the development was only made possible through the able leadership of His Excellency, President Mnangagwa through his Zimbabwe is open for business and leaving no one and no place behind mantras.
“President Mnangagwa has been at the forefront in inviting and welcoming investors and foreign companies into the country who will help in building back our economy and at the same time give back to the community.
‘‘This allows for the attainment of Vision 2030 of an upper middle income economy by 2030,” she said.
Minister Matsikenyere said the reconstruction of the road will increase the transportation of goods and services which was a challenge for long in the area.
“The development has also resulted in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development’s Roads Department promising to urgently reconstruct the remaining 43,5km of the road. It requires re-gravelling and re-grading as well. Government through the responsible ministry has pledged to avail resources and we will follow-up on their promise.
“Most of the labour needed during the construction of the road is unskilled labour, so our youths who have been idle should take advantage of this and secure employment.
“The President promised quite a number of jobs by Year 2023 and it is already happening. The re-gravelling of this road will also improve the socio-economic activities for members of the community in this area and these include unlimited farming and mining activities,” she said.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister, who is also Member of Parliament for Mutare North constituency, Cde Mike Madiro commended the relations between Government and the private sector, saying this will create employment for local people in the area.
“We are glad that we have such companies that know the importance of giving back to the communities they are working in. This road had become impassable and public service vehicles were having trouble connecting from Point A to Point B using the road.
“Farmers were also having trouble transporting their produce, while miners were also having such challenges in transporting their products due to the poor state of the road. Now that the road is being constructed, the community’s nightmares will soon be over.
“This was only made possible through the able leadership of our beloved President who is a loving person who has the nation and the people at heart,” he said.
Councillor for Ward Three, Councillor Moses Mujaji applauded the partnership, saying the programme compliments President Mnangagwa’s roads rehabilitation efforts.
“They have also promised that they will continue to maintain the road even after constructing it for us. Job creation will also be an added advantage for our children. This is what we were promised by President Mnangagwa and this is coming to fruition,” he said.
