The bidding process is underway in Zimbabwe for a major highway project. The US$2.7 billion project will see the construction of a new highway link connecting Beitbridge, Harare and Chirundu. Work has been carried out on the A4 route previously but has stalled due to a number of reasons, including lack of funds. The aim is to widen and improve the route so as to boost its capacity and also improve safety for drivers. When complete it will feature two lanes in either direction as well as a central reservation, minimising the risk of head-on collisions.
Beitbridge lies on the border with neighbouring South Africa, while Chirundu is in the north of the country, on the border with Zambia. The new tolled highway will provide a key connection for Zimbabwe, improving traffic to and from the capital Harare and providing a key international link that will help trade and boost the country’s struggling economy. The section between Beitbridge and Harare will measure around 570km and will feature eight toll plazas.
The project has had a troubled history. The contract for the work has been awarded previously to a European company that turned out to have minimal experience of construction work. The package of works was subsequently stripped from the firm amidst questions as to why it had been awarded in the first place.
