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NewsDay

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‘Egodini upgrade on course’

Business
THE $60 million Basch Street Terminus — popularly known as Egodini — upgrade project is still on course despite the political squabbling taking place, Bulawayo mayor Martin Moyo has said.

THE $60 million Basch Street Terminus — popularly known as Egodini — upgrade project is still on course despite the political squabbling taking place, Bulawayo mayor Martin Moyo has said.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

Responding to questions from participants who attended the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Matabeleland chapter’s Trade and Investment Opportunities conference held in Bulawayo recently, he said the project was going ahead as planned.

“Compensation and notices for businesses that occupy space at the terminus have been agreed on. Civil engineering firm, Terracotta, has also been given the go-ahead to display the contractor’s banner,” he said.

“Initially, we had a concept as the local authority. The plans were not the actual plans, but Terracotta has submitted to our engineers the correct plan for corrections. The project is going to take off and is on course.”

Moyo denied that there was corruption involved in the project.

“The project will happen. We are not losing that investment and there is nothing shady about the deal,” he said.

Moyo said the cadastral surveying process, which is the sub-field of surveying that specialises in the establishment and re-establishment of real property boundaries, has been conducted.

A few years ago, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) awarded South African civil engineering firm, Terracotta, a contract to develop a transport hub and shopping mall at Basch Street Terminus.

The project, valued at $60 million, is on a build-operate-and-transfer basis and will come at no cost to council, officials say.

Bulawayo will eventually own it once Terracotta has recouped its investment.

The refurbishment is expected to see the terminus handling at least three million travellers per month, according to the BCC.

As part of the redesign of the terminus area, BCC will expand existing roads into the site and create dedicated pedestrian routes to increase traffic access.

The site will include a transport hub located on the Basch Street ground level, retail sections and parking bays.

However, after the signing of the agreement, squabbles over the project arose and have stalled its implementation.

Recently, Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere sent the permanent secretary in his ministry, George Mlilo, and Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, to meet the MDC-T-run council officials, where the two threatened to cancel the project and order a re-tender.

This followed allegations that some senior council officials, particularly, deputy mayor, Gift Banda, were linked to Terraccotta.

Banda has since refuted the allegations.