NYIKA growth point in Bikita district has become the first growth point in Masvingo to install traffic lights, in a milestone development aimed at enhancing road safety and managing increased traffic volumes.
Officials said the installation, which came amid growing concern over road safety near schools and public facilities, was part of a broader strategy by the Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) to improve infrastructure and reduce accidents in high-risk areas.
The traffic control system has been placed near Ngwindingwi High School and Gumundu Primary School, both located adjacent to the busy Mutare-Masvingo highway.
Bikita RDC acting chief executive officer, Arnold Mutuke, said the traffic lights were a necessary intervention to protect schoolchildren and other vulnerable road users.
“We fear for our children, and this development was crucial to protect them,” he said.
“The traffic lights will help reduce vehicle speeds and create a safer environment for the Nyika community.
Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association spokesperson, Kombere Mungazi, welcomed the development, describing the intersection as a high-risk area.
“It was indeed a red spot where these lights have been placed, and it’s a positive move,” said Mungazi.
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However, he also urged the local authority to address other pressing service delivery issues affecting residents.
“While this is commendable, we continue to face water shortages and poor road maintenance in various parts of the district.
“These also require urgent attention,” he added.
Meanwhile, Masvingo provincial roads engineer, Augustine Chigwereve, confirmed that road rehabilitation works are underway along the Mutare-Masvingo highway near Nyika, where 3km have already been completed, with 14km still under construction.
He appealed to motorists to exercise caution in areas where construction is in progress.
The development is expected to set a precedent for other growth points in the province, as authorities continue to decentralise infrastructure and services.
