Government cherry-picks roads, traffic lights for repair ahead of SADC summit
2.8 mega litre water tank, bio-digesters also to be installed for the convenience of delegates
By Staff Reporter
The government is set to repair traffic intersection lights and roads linking the Harare CBD and the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, venue for the August SADC Summit in which President Emmerson Mnangagwa will assume chairmanship of the regional bloc.
This was revealed at a post-cabinet media briefing in Harare Tuesday by Information Minister Jenfan Muswere.
Zimbabwe will host the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government on 17 August, 2024.
The summit will be hosted at the New Parliament Building in the New City at Mt. Hampden.
Accordingly, a sub-committee on construction has been tasked to attend to “requisite hosting facilities and the enabling infrastructure”.
“Landscaping, rehabilitation and construction of access roads to the venue of the summit are ongoing,” Muswere said.
He added, “The Public Works Department is constructing a 2.8 mega litre water tank which is expected to be completed by June 2024.
“Meanwhile, the City of Harare is installing bio-digesters for managing waste-water.
“The Municipality will also repair and upgrade traffic signals at key intersections on routes leading to the SADC Summit venue and hotels to be utilised by delegates around the City, as well as ensuring that street lights are working.
“In terms of rehabilitation of main access roads, Cabinet informs the nation that three (3) main packages under this programme which are being undertaken are as follows: (a) the Harare-Chirundu Section from Julius Nyerere Street to 2nd Street-Lomagundi Road to Westgate Traffic Circle;
“(b) the Harare-Kanyemba Section from Harare Drive to intersection with the New Parliament Boulevard; and (c) the New Parliament Boulevard, New Parliament Loop Road, Access Roads and Old Mazowe Road.
“In addition, a number of selected roads from the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to the City Centre and the access roads leading to the main access roads to the New Parliament, are being rehabilitated.
“The nation is further informed that the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services is coordinating provision of infrastructure to meet SADC Information Communication Technology requirements and facilitate a seamless flow of meetings and sessions during the Summit.”
Zimbabwe’s urban centres have a ruined road infrastructure characterised by potholes and dysfunctional traffic control lights.
The sorry state of roads has been linked to years of neglect by government and local authorities.
