Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said that funding issues have caused delays in the Harare-Chirundu Highway rehabilitation project.
Speaking to Members of Parliament recently, Mhona assured them that the Ministry of Transport is working on securing the necessary funds to complete the project on time. He said (via <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200038570/minister-blames-delay-in-hre-chirundu-highway-rehab-on-funding-challenges">NewsDay</a>):
<blockquote>
We cannot tap into the fiscus to complete this entire project, lest it take time to complete.
So, we are finalising a funding modality for the whole stretch, which is from Harare to Chirundu.
Very soon, we will be finalising that funding model, where we want to address various sections simultaneously so that we do not start and stop.
</blockquote>
Mhona said depending solely on the government’s budget allocation for the project would cause further delays. He said:
<blockquote>
In terms of the budgeted amount in the blue book, as I indicated, we are talking of a 350km stretch of the road.
The approach that we want to take in this particular project is not just to operate within the confines of what has been budgeted.
So, if we wait for what has been allocated in the budget only, it means we will operate and wait for another allocation. We cannot wait for the fiscus.
I think this will also buttress the point that what is in the budget will augment the initiatives that we are taking as a ministry.
</blockquote>
Many roads in Zimbabwe are still in poor condition, despite the government starting the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Project (ERRP) in 2021.
The project was launched after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the country’s roads a national disaster.
However, little progress has been made, with some claiming that the companies hired for the work did a poor job.
Recent rains have made the situation worse, leaving many roads filled with large potholes.

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The Harare-Chirundu Highway project is delayed because of lack of money. The Minister of Transport is trying to get more funds to finish the work. If they only rely on the government's budget, it will take longer. Many roads in Zimbabwe are in bad condition, and the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Project has not made much progress. Some say the companies hired for the job did not do well. The rainy season has made the roads worse with big potholes. The government is trying to find more money to fix the roads.

Harare-Chirundu Highway Rehab Delayed By Funding Constraints, Says Transport Minister

Three people were killed and ten others injured when an Isuzu KB 250 side-swiped an overloaded Toyota Probox along Harare-Chirundu Road on New Year’s Eve.
The ZRP confirmed the accident in a post on its official X page, saying the accident occurred around 8 PM.
The Toyota Probox, typically designed to carry up to five passengers, including the driver, had 13 passengers on board.
With two front seats and a rear bench seat that can accommodate three passengers, it suggests that the vehicle may have been used as a pirate taxi (mushikashika). Police said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred on 31/12/24 at around 2000 hours at the 136 kilometre peg along Harare -Chirundu Road.
Three people were killed while ten others were injured when an Isuzu KB 250 vehicle with no passengers on board side swiped with a Toyota Probox vehicle with 13 passengers on board.
The bodies of the victims were taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital mortuary for post mortem while the injured were admitted at the same hospital.
</blockquote>
Members of the public often attribute such fatal accidents to alleged corruption among police officers, as the overloaded vehicle would likely have passed through multiple police roadblocks.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

On New Year's Eve, a Toyota Probox with 13 passengers got hit by an Isuzu KB 250, causing 3 deaths and 10 injuries on Harare-Chirundu Road. The Probox is only meant to carry 5 people, so it may have been used as a pirate taxi. The accident happened around 8 PM. The injured were taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital. Many people blame police corruption for such accidents, as the overloaded vehicle passed through many police roadblocks.

Toyota Probox With 13 Passengers In Deadly New Year's Eve Crash

Two people lost their lives and nine others were injured in a road traffic accident on the Harare-Chirundu Road around 11 AM on Wednesday.
According to a statement from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the accident occurred when a Toyota Fortuner, travelling without passengers, collided head-on with a Honda vehicle.
The collision happened as the driver of the Fortuner attempted to overtake a motorcycle. Police said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred on 23/10/24 at the 171 kilometre peg along Harare-Chirundu Road on 23/10/24 at around 1100 hours.
Two people were killed whilst nine others were injured when a Toyota Fortuner vehicle with no passengers on board allegedly tried to overtake a motor cycle resulting in the vehicle colliding head-on with a Honda Fit vehicle with eight passengers on board.
</blockquote>
The bodies of the victims were transported to the mortuary at Karoi Hospital for post-mortem examinations, while the injured were admitted for treatment at the same facility.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Two people died and nine others got hurt in a big car crash on the Harare-Chirundu Road. The accident happened when a Toyota Fortuner tried to pass a motorcycle and hit a Honda car with many people inside. The police in Zimbabwe are investigating the crash. The dead bodies were taken to the hospital for more tests and the injured people are getting treated there too. It's important to be very careful when driving on the road to prevent accidents like this from happening.

Two People Killed, Nine Injured In Head-on Collision On Harare-Chirundu Road

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, said that the rehabilitation of the Harare-Chirundu road will cost more than half a million United States dollars.
Responding to questions from the media during the launch of the project in Harare earlier this week, Mhona said the project should be completed within the next 18 months at a cost of over US$550 million. He said, as quoted by <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/over-us550-million-for-harare-chirundu-highway-rehabilitation-mhona/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>:
<blockquote>
Those who remember, for the Harare-Chirundu road, we were talking of over US$550 million for the rehabilitation. 
This is what we are working with. As we progress, we will continue updating and briefing the electorate.
</blockquote>
Mhona said that not only the Harare-Chirundu highway was undergoing rehabilitation, but all roads countrywide needed attention.
He said the Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare highway is 99% complete where five local construction companies got contracts to work the busiest highway in the country known as R1.
The companies which are working on the road are Masimba Construction (Pvt) Ltd, Tensor System, Exodus, Fossil and Bitumen.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare-Chirundu Highway Rehabilitation To Cost Over US$550 Million - Mhona

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has released the names of people who died in a road traffic accident which occurred along Harare-Mutare Road, near Marondera on 27th December 2023. Five people were killed while 36 others were injured when a Blue Horizon bus, haulage truck and Mercedes Benz collided. In a statement seen by Pindula News, police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said:
<blockquote>
<h3>UPDATE ON FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AT THE 64 KM PEG ALONG HARARE- MUTARE ROAD, MARONDERA</h3>
Reference is made to the Zimbabwe Republic Police press statement released on 27th December 2023 on the fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the 64 kilometre peg along Harare-Mutare Road, Marondera on 27th December 2023 where five people were killed while 36 others were injured when a Blue Horizon bus, haulage truck and Mercedes Benz collided.
The Police releases the names of four of the five victims who were identified by their next of kin as listed:-
</blockquote>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kunaishe Madyira (7), a female juvenile of Glendale, Mazowe</li>
<li>Dudzai Teta (49), a male adult of Hama Street, Dzivarasekwa, Harare</li>
<li>Sandukai Kamuriwo (50), a male adult of Dzivarasekwa 3, Harare</li>
<li>Rudo Chinyakobvu (60), a female adult of Chitoro Street, Budiriro 2, Harare</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
The other victim, a male adult, is yet to be identified by the next of kin.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, three people died in a car accident that happened on December 28, 2023, at around 11:00 am along the Harare-Chirundu Road in Zimbabwe. 11 passengers were injured. The accident occurred when a kombi driver tried to overtake another vehicle. The kombi veered off the road, flipped over once, and landed on its wheels. The injured passengers were taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital for treatment.
Nyathi said ZRP is deeply saddened by the loss of lives in road accidents and reminds all drivers to be careful and prioritize safety to prevent such tragedies.
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