The government of Zimbabwe and the financier of the $2.71 billion Beitbridge-Harare highway in Zimbabwe are expected to agree on when the project should start.
Dr Joram Gumbo, the Minister in charge of Transport and Infrastructural Development said they the project is expected to be completed within three years.
As such, the road will be divided into at least eight parts and worked on concurrently.
He said this was one of the items of discussion when they meet representatives of Geiger International and its contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
Geiger International is an Austrian company based and operating in China while CHEC is a subsidiary of state-owned China Communications Construction Company.
Dr Gumbo regretted the delay in the dualisation of the road despite having it in the pipeline for many years. He added that the dualisation should be urgent so as to offer a shorter route for exports South Africa. He said if they don’t act with hast, they will lose a lot in transit revenue South Africa and Botswana who are already working on a corridor that links Botswana and Zambia via the Kazungula Bridge.
Minister Gumbo said that in line with the Government’s plan to empower locals through Zim-Asset, Geiger International is expected to identify local companies to partner with on the project. He also said the meeting will deliberate on what materials will be procured locally and what will be imported. He said the details of the meeting will be advertised at the right but was quick to assure the local citizenry that they stand to benefit much from the project
He added that the Department of Roads had finished the location of the road line, while the process of identifying the land owners was expected to start soon. Dr Gumbo said Geiger International was in the process of assembling its team.
