The company contracted by Government for the $241 million Beitbridge Border Post modernisation project yesterday said they were now finalising the designs and work plans with civil works expected to begin in February next year.
In an interview during a tour of the border post, Zimbabwe Borders director, Mr Lous Raubenweimer, said they expected to start initial buildings in the next three months. The project was being implemented under a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement which will see Zim Borders recouping its funds through border access fees to be collected over 17-and-a-half years, before handing over the property to Government.
Zimbabwean Borders were awarded the tender to upgrade and modernise the port of entry in December 2017. This year in July, Head Of State – Mnangagwa laid the foundation for the commencement of works when he led the groundbreaking ceremony at the country and Sadc’s busiest port of entry.
The upgrading and expansion of the border post is expected to speed up the processes culminating in the implementation of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Some of the works under the programme are – the construction of more commercial customs offices, paving and expansion of sewer and water reticulation facilities, separation of traffic into buses, light vehicles, tourists, commercial vehicles, construction of a commercial bridge to link with South Africa and the upgrading of Beitbridge Municipality’s key infrastructure among others.
-AllAfrica.com
