Harare-Beitbridge Road to be complete by 2023

Belinda Chaora

As the dualisation of the Masvingo-Beit bridge highway that links Zimbabwe to South Africa takes shape, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister, Joel Biggie Matiza says work is expected to be complete by 2023.

Minister Matiza told a media briefing that Government had set aside US$693 million for the rehabilitation and widening of the highway. The road is set to be widened from the current seven meters to 12.5 meters in keeping with Southern Africa Transport and Communications Commission (SATCC) standards. At that width, the road will be at par with the N1 Highway in South Africa and the Chirundu-Lusaka Road in Zambia.

“We expedited the process by contracting six local contractors who are plying their works in the four provinces the road crosses,” minister Matiza said.   

At the same news briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mininster, Monica Mutsvangwa said significant progress has been made on various sections of the road. She said the 5km stretch in Chivhu and the 3km stretch in Beatrice along the Harare-Masvingo highway have been completed.