At least 135 residential, industrial and commercial properties built near Mbudzi roundabout in Harare will have to be demolished to pave way for the construction of 14 bridges and bridge-like structures at the new traffic interchange taking shape there, but the owners will get full compensation from the Government.
The Government has since roped in three valuers, one of them from the Public Works, while two others are independent ones, to carry out the assessment on those affected.
The normal procedure in these cases is to get the three valuations and average them.
The Mbudzi roundabout is at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza and High Glen roads that feed traffic from western Chitungwiza and many old and new suburbs into Harare city centre, as well as the heavy national and regional traffic on the Harare-Masvingo Highway.
A team of journalists and editors is currently touring the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway being shown progress by officials from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and Government officials.
In an interview, the ministry’s permanent secretary Engineer Kudzanai Chinyanga said they were happy with the progress being conducted at the Mbudzi traffic interchange by the contractor, Tefoma Group.
“So far the last time we were here we were talking about this bridge which is bridge number two,” he said. “Bridge number two is the one which carries traffic towards High Glen, Glen Norah and the like.
“So far on assessment of the project, we are excited and hoping that the contractor is keeping the progress. However, the drawback is that it has taken us more than we anticipated to conclude the compensation issues which are still ongoing.
“We have completed the valuation of all affected properties. We want to ensure that each and every affected citizen is not disadvantaged at all and that they are paid a fair compensation.”
Eng Chinyanga said the ministry was engaging each affected person individually and not as a group.
