Govt approves construction of Odzi by-pass road, project commences in two months
Odzi- AS part of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP), government has approved the construction of a by-pass road in Odzi to reduce road carnage at Christmas Pass near Mutare and feasibility studies have already been done.
Transport and Infrastructure Development minister Felix Mhona confirmed this development to journalists in Odzi during a recent tour of the planned by-pass road recently.
A by-pass road is one passing round a town or its centre to provide an alternative route for through traffic.
“Our engineers have done the mapping and other requirements and we hope that in the next two months the road construction will begin,” Mhona told journalists.
He said the Second Republic under President Emmerson Mnangagwa realised the need to save lives along the Christmas Pass road hence the preventative measure to speedily construct a by-pass road .
“There is a need to speed up the process in order to safeguard other impending accidents.
“People were complaining that there were too many accidents happening in the Christmas Pass and surely, we have been witnessing accidents.
“As the Second Republic led by His Excellency, we really need to rehabilitate the by-pass road and divert heavy-duty trucks from using the Christmas Pass as a measure to reduce further accidents,” he said.
Statistics state that thus far in 2023, there has been nine casualties at the Christmas Pass and Traffic Society of Zimbabwe has carried out a road safety audit to find the panacea to this time bomb.
Since coming into office, President Mnangagwa has consistently emphasised the need for infrastructure development as a catalyst for economic growth in Zimbabwe- road rehab being part of the package.
The tremendous speed at which the Harare- Beitbridge road is been constructed is clear testimony of the Second Republic’s commitment to improve the road network in the country as it also serves as an impetus to economic growth.
