Zim debt likely to surpass US$21,5 bln as govt rolls out hefty infrastructure projects
Business Reporter
MILLIONS worth of taxpayers’ monies are set to be gobbled as Zimbabwe rolls out the construction of four interchanges.
Official records show that the Mbudzi Interchange gobbled US$114 million which could be higher when interests to the amount which was raised through loans.
In an update this week, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister, Felix Mhona said construction of the Mabvuku Interchange had kicked off .He said three more interchange projects are being rolled out nationwide, raising fears of the impact on the country’s debt situation.
“This is one of our great projects in terms of managing and decongesting traffic and as you know, coming from the east was quite problematic in the sense that you want to go to Chitungwiza you have to go through the city and connect to Seke Road but now this is going to separate traffic where even if you want to go to Mutoko, if you want to go to Chitungwiza, you will then be separated from this platform.
“So it is very important in terms of decongestion but above all for saving lives. We have been losing lives on this particular junction but with the advent of this project you will see that we will preserve the sanctity of human lives by making sure that our motorists will not be crossing each other in terms of the way they travel. And not only that, we are going to be connecting again to the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, so as to make sure that those who want to go to the airport will no longer need to go straight into the greater city,” he said.
Minister Mhona said the Mabvuku Interchange was set to be completed and commissioned by July next year.
“I can say to the people of Zimbabwe, Yes, when we started the Trabablas Interchange, we were hearing dates shifting because of various reasons, where we had to relocate people, we had to compensate people but on this particular project, you see there are no dwellings within the intersection.
“So in terms of speed, we are going to move with speed and by July 2026, we will be done. And you will see the work ethic of the Second Republic under the wise leadership of His Excellency Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa that no one is going to sleep on this particular project, 24/7. So come July 2026, His Excellency will be commissioning this project,” he said.
