Govt acts on ‘killer’ Masvingo Road

By Newsday | Jul. 23, 2013

The government has started constructing a roundabout at a “killer junction” along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road in a move set to reduce accidents

MASVINGO — The government has started constructing a roundabout at a “killer junction” along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road in a move set to reduce accidents as well as regulate traffic along one of the country’s busiest highways.

Tatenda Chitagu Own Correspondent

The road links the high-density suburbs of Mucheke and Rujeko, as well as Morningside and Great Zimbabwe University to Masvingo town.

Many of the roads converge at a junction near Masvingo Polytechnic College, where a number of fatal accidents have been recorded, particularly during the night. Residents, police, motorists as well as the Masvingo City Council had raised concern over the high number of fatal accidents at the intersection. Conspiracy theories were also raised, linking the intersection to a curse or juju.

As a reprieve, construction began this week after the Transport ministry secured $550 000 for the project.

Although officials from the ministry in Masvingo referred all questions to their headquarters in Harare, chairman of the caretaker council, district administrator James Mazvidza said the government had secured the funding after the local authority wanted to take the responsibility of constructing the roundabout.

“We had taken it upon ourselves to construct the roundabout after the high number of accidents at the intersection and after seeing the traffic congestion,” he said.

“However, the Transport ministry said it was their responsibility and I am told they have started construction following a $550 000 injection.” Mazvidza said this was a welcome development, since it would reduce fatalities as well as regulate traffic getting in and out of the city. “We welcome the development and it came at no better time than now,” he said.