Sunday Mail Reporter
THE relocation of Dema tollgate has come as a relief for the local farming community and is creating employment opportunities for the youths in the area, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has said.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of the new tollgate site last week, Minister Mhona said Government had heeded concerns by the Dema and Seke communities and resolved to relocate the tollgate.
“This is a farming community and it’s true that some were being affected by this tollgate daily,” said Minister Mhona.
“I am happy that wherever we do projects, we also employ youths from the local community and here we are looking at employment of 30 to 40 people who will be working at this tollgate. This is going to transform their lives and the community as well. Apart from the relocation and upgrade of the tollgate to a toll plaza, we are also refurbishing roads in this area linking Chitungwiza and Makoni and proceed to 10 Miles Road from Hwedza.
“The money that we are using for all these projects is being mobilised locally from our tollgates and the construction of this toll plaza would be done in-house by a Government parastatal. We don’t have anyone that we should wait for to come and develop our country.”
The Government, Minister Mhona said, was refurbishing and reconstructing roads to facilitate business and make it convenient for travellers. He, however, expressed concern over motorists who disregard road traffic rules.
“You will see that as we move forward, we are going be accompanied by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and Zinara (Zimbabwe National Road Administration) educating people about the importance of good driving.”
Some are driving after drinking alcohol and we now want to introduce breathalysers and cameras working together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Vehicle Inspection Directorate.”
Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister Cde Joshua Sacco highlighted the importance of unity of purpose when undertaking major projects, while Chief Seke applauded the Second Republic, led by President Mnangagwa, for heeding the call by the Dema community to relocate the tollgate.
This comes at a time when Zinara has confirmed that it has enough resources to implement the construction of toll plazas across the country and roll out the e-tolling project as soon as the procurement processes have been completed.
The groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by the several business executives, local leadership and representatives of various parastatals under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
