shloboe boe
Nqobile Tshili, nqobile.tshili@chronicle.co.zw
THE government yesterday signed a concession agreement with a local investor, Zwane Enterprise, granting approval for the contractor to resume the upgrading of the Bulawayo-Old Gwanda Road at an estimated cost of approximately US$150 million.
The contractor has pledged to move onsite starting next Monday. Cabinet approved the construction of Old Gwanda Road under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) last May.
While the initial cost was pegged at US$110 million, Zwane Enterprise has indicated that the total cost of the project will be US$150 million, factoring in additional funds required for the construction of “road furniture”, including toll gates, service stations and a rural shopping mall.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and Zwane Enterprise signed the concession agreement in Harare yesterday.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Engineer Joy Makumbe, represented the Government, while Zwane Enterprise’s chief executive officer, Engineer Bekithemba Mbambo, represented the company.
Eng Mbambo described the signing of the concession as a milestone development, stating that it marks the beginning of the project, with responsibility now resting solely on Zwane Enterprise to deliver.
“The signing of the concession agreement for Old Gwanda Road is a major milestone in this project’s journey. It has been a long three-plus years,” he said.
“The road will bring significant development and jobs to the corridor, Matabeleland South province, and Zimbabwe as a whole in various sectors such as construction, hospitality, tourism and agriculture, among others,” said Eng Mbambo.
“Now, the ball is squarely in Zwane’s court to deliver a quality road on time.”
He added that the only potential delay to the commencement of road construction would be the rainy season.
“However, we will use this time for preparatory work, which includes, among other things: financial closure, homestead relocations, the ground-breaking ceremony, land acquisitions and the construction of road furniture,” said Eng Mbambo.
“So, there is a lot of preparatory work to do. We plan to start the construction of the first homestead by Monday, February 3.”
Zwane Enterprise released an innovative architectural design for the project last year, which aims to celebrate the cultural and tourism ecosystem of Matabeleland South.
Eng Mbambo, a self-proclaimed “culturalist”, views the project as more than just road construction.
“There is no other road packed with cultural and heritage sites like the Old Gwanda Road. It has the King’s Kraal at Mhlahlandlela, King Mzilikazi’s grave at Entumbane and Cecil John Rhodes’ grave along the way,” he said.
“As we go further towards Ntunjambili, it is embedded with the folklore of the people which is part of our heritage.”
“The whole of Matobo Hills is also represented along the road. Alongside the roadside, there are Bushman paintings at sites like the Gulabahwa Carve Heritage Site, with unique paintings.”
Underlining the cultural significance of the route, Eng Mbambo pointed to landmarks like the Njelele Shrine.
The revered spiritual site attracts visitors from across the region seeking guidance from their ancestors through traditional African practices.
“It’s said that a voice once spoke from the Njelele rocks, and even today, many come for spiritual connection, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of cultural tourism in Matabeleland South,” he said.
“We want to create a road that serves as a corridor to communicate the culture of our people. Matobo Hills are a World Heritage Site, and this must be incorporated into the road’s construction. The world should come to know about Matobo Hills through this road.
“That is why we will have fuel service stations that reflect some of the natural tourist features found within Matobo National Park. For instance, we will have a Zebra service station,” said Eng Mbambo.
“Such animals are found in Matopo National Park. Eco-tourism will be at the centre of the road’s construction. We want to be pathfinders, and in doing so, we must produce a unique product.”
In a break from tradition, Zwane Enterprise is forgoing the standard concrete slab rest stops. Instead, it will design layovers inspired by traditional Nguni huts, complete with piped water and ablution facilities.
This approach will enhance the cultural experience for travellers while providing essential amenities.
“I’m shocked that to this day we are still creating concrete slab lay-bys and bus stops where people just stop, leave their vehicles, and use the bush to relieve themselves.
“We will create lay-bys or bus stops with running water and ablution facilities every 10km. We will design lay-bys with structures that highlight Ndebele culture and traditional circular huts, similar to the type of huts brought from Zululand,” said Eng Mbambo.
He hinted at extending the cultural theme to the tollgates, ensuring their design reflects the unique heritage of the surrounding areas.
The two planned tollgates, one at the Gwanda end and the other near Bulawayo, will serve as gateways to this cultural journey.
“The tollgates will also be themed to reflect the heritage of the area. The one at Ntunjambili will be themed along the Matobo Hills, depicting the mountains in the Matobo area, and will be situated 33km from the Bulawayo end,” said Eng Mbambo.
“It will be situated where the Matobo Hills start, while the Vumbachikwe tollgate will be themed around the mining areas of Gwanda. This tollgate will showcase mining equipment and the large mining areas in that region.”
“You will see, as we move towards the inauguration of the road, that we want to have an inscription stating, ‘If you have not driven along Old Gwanda Road, you have not experienced Zimbabwe’. This is a road where we do not expect people to drive fast, but rather a road where they will learn about our unique heritage and perhaps stop along the way to explore tourism products.”
Eng Mbambo firmly believes that cultural heritage is a powerful economic driver. While others showcase their heritage through canvas paintings, Zwane Enterprise is taking an innovative approach by weaving it into the very fabric of the road.
He acknowledged Zimbabwe’s abundance of natural and cultural heritage sites and stressed the need to unlock their full potential. The project aspires to be a model for monetising these treasures, ensuring they become sustainable economic engines for the region.
“Denmark is a country without natural heritage features, but they have created tourism around their culture. They have cultural villages, and people travel from all over the world to visit and experience those villages,” said Eng Mbambo.
“So, as we develop, let us be proud of who we are and use our heritage as a tourism product.”-@nqotshili
