His Excellency President Mnangagwa officially opened the 43km Shurugwi-Mandamabwe road yesterday, a road that will connect the two provinces Masvingo and Midlands.
President Mnangagwa recalls his early years in Shurugwi in the 1940s when it was difficult to get transport.
“In the late 1940s I used to go to Gweru to sell our produce with my mother and it would take a whole day to get transport but with this development in my home town.
“I am glad that a day’s journey in my hometown is now a matter of hours, thanks to improved road infrastructure. We are embracing the mantra, ‘nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’,” he said.
He explained the Vision 2030 mantra and what it means for road construction.
“Our vision for 2030 is to implement a harmonized regional strategy for road infrastructure development in our region. This means that the roads we are building will create a network between countries, making our country easily accessible from different ports,” he said.
“My Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development which is led by Hon Mhona is championing road infrastructure development. I told the Minister that he should at least invite me 2 to 3 times a year in commissioning road projects and he has been doing that and I am happy,” he said.
He went on and said, “Today’s event is impactful as we transform and upgrade our transport infrastructure which is a key enabler for economic growth and development. For our country to develop we require robust infrastructure, planning and development to build the necessary domestic linkages,” he said.
Speaking at the same event the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Honourable Felix Tapiwa Mhona said, “We feel honoured as the Ministry of Transport because in all we do everything is moving swiftly because we have a competitive leader who has a greater vision for his country,” he said.
Hon Mhona highlighted that they have been instructed by His Excellency to incorporate other provinces.
“His Excellency has instructed us to incorporate other provinces. The road from Kwekwe, Nkayi and Lupane construction has to start immediately and from Gweru will go to Boterekwa, Zvishavane to the border post.
“He has also instructed us to fence the road so that livestock will not disrupt cars and cause accidents. We urge you all that when the barbed wire is installed we have to guard our property and not take advantage and steal,” Hon Mhona said.
Shurugwi South MP Hon Mhuri expressed his gratitude to President Mnangagwa for remembering his constitutiency.
“We are very happy and we would like to thank His Excellency President Mnangagwa on behalf of Shurugwi South. Our plight was finally heard because we have a listening President and when he promises he lives to that promise and we are thankful.
“Because of the festive season, business opportunities in the area have opened up. Previously, vehicles were no longer using this road but use Zvishavane instead, which negatively affected our markets here in Shurugwi,” he said.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is actively involved in various infrastructural development projects across the country, including the Harare-Chirundu road, Boulevard Road, and several others.
Story by Farirai Mutumburanzou
