Mbudzi Interchange set for completion by July

GOVERNMENT has so far injected US$45 million towards the construction of the Mbudzi Traffic Interchange, which is now 55 percent complete and is set to be completed by July 31 this year.

At a cost of roughly US$14,8 million, the government has already paid compensation to 42 out of 52 property owners; only US$14,9 million remains unpaid.

However, 95 affected households are being moved to Hatcliffe, where they will have dwellings constructed, as an alternative.

Before the government invested resources to convert the old Mbudzi roundabout into an interchange, it was a significant vehicle traffic bottleneck in southern Harare. The Second Republic is still updating its infrastructure to meet contemporary demands and trends.

Among the project's advantages are the reduction of transit times, accidents, and traffic in the Mbudzi area as well as the creation of a more streamlined and effective traffic flow.

In addition to providing thousands of people with downstream employment opportunities and direct employment, the project is upgrading and transferring skills for Department of Roads employees.

The media was given a tour of the interchange yesterday by Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona, his deputy Joshua Sacco, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Charles Tavengwa, and other top government officials.

The fact that we have arrived at last is extremely satisfying. What you are witnessing right now is not new; it has been happening for eons. We have started this trip, and the most important thing is that everything we have seen today is coming from Zimbabweans, in line with President Mnangagwa's catchphrase, "Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo." Exactly what we are saying is this. You have viewed all of the employees and the works.

In contrast to what you may have heard in the media, we have been moving forward fairly successfully for the past two years or so, and I am delighted about that, the speaker added.

According to Minister Mhona, the tour's objective was to provide the public with an update on the project.

In order to show what His Excellency Cde Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is doing in the Second Republic—that is, that we are not showcasing, that we are not grandstanding politically, but rather that we are here to deliver—I felt it was imperative that the ministry engage the media and the fourth estate.

He claimed that because Zimbabwe is connected to many nations, including Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Mozambique, a top-notch road network is required.

The minister denied nasty and untrue rumors that the project's funding had been misused that were making the rounds on social media.

The alleged Mbudzi Interchange Compensation Fund does not exist. We are mobilizing and informing Treasury whether there are any properties that require payment. As of right now, 42 of the 52 have received both full and partial compensation, according to Minister Mhona.

The minister also went over the entire compensation procedure that was carried out by the Ministry of Local Government, which does the appraisals.

Minister Mhona remarked, "I'm glad you saw the infrastructure and we're moving forward. We need our interchange by July 31 of this year."

Fossil Contracting head of operations Engineer Kudakwashe Maguta also said, “Mbudzi Interchange is a graded section interchange which comprises of 15 bridges. Of the 15 bridges, 13 are on the interchange and two bridges are off-site bridges in Amalinda Drive and Harare Drive. The bridges on the interchange, about six of the bridges are substantially complete, that is bridge number two, bridge number six, bridge number eight, bridge number 10, bridge number 11 and bridge number 12, and all the other bridges, are at an advanced stage. Some are at 40 percent but the majority of them are now above 60 percent.

With the exception of a few concrete structures, we are finally safely out of the woods and above ground. We are already at 77% of the way through the concrete constructions for all 15 bridges that need to be completed.

The US$88 million Mbudzi Interchange is located in Harare at the intersection of High Glen Road, Chitungwiza Road, and Simon Mazorodze Road.

Project financing is being provided by regional financial institutions, and the contractor is a joint venture between three regional road construction firms operating under the Tefoma Construction joint venture name: Tensor Systems, Fossil Contracting, and Masimba Construction.