CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU: City of Gweru and the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution this week assessed the progress of Kudzanayi Bus Terminus, Gweru’s long distance bus rank.
Kudzanayi has been under construction since May 2020 and was expected to have been completed September last year.
Director in Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Larry Mavima’s office, Cleto Diwa represented the minister, while GCC was represented by Mayor Josiah Makombe and councilors during a facility tour.
Bentach Resources director David Kudakwashe said the facility should be ready for use at the end of April.
“We should be finished by end of April as we are left with roofs and toilets only. Electricity and internet connectivity is also outstanding and we expect to be done in the next two weeks,” Kudakwashe said.
He said the delay in finishing had been caused by challenges in logistics due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
The new stalls will accommodate at least 500 vendors and the limited spaces have a high probability that subletting will still exist amid efforts to decongest the place.
Kudakwashe however told CommuTalk that they are constructing the structure with all those developments in mind.
“We know stall barons are a challenge all over but we have set strategies t0 fight all that. Marshals will also have no place in this new structure to curb harassment and theft cases,” Kudakwashe added.
Diwa expressed satisfaction with the commitment exhibited by Bentach.
Makombe also took advantage of the tour to comment on pending progress.
“We underestimated the work here when we agreed on the timelines. There has been massive work and I hope they will stick to their timeframe and by end of April there will be business here so that the economic development of the city takes a boost,” he said.
“We have engaged the developer to speed up because we have given them enough time. I have made it clear to them that if they don’t stick to the timelines we will have to revisit the contract we did but so far so good,” Makombe said.
