Mbudzi roundabout above board

DNMZ, the designer of the Mbudzi Traffic Interchange in Harare has said they do not reveal project information to third parties without approval of the client.

This comes after a social media post claimed that the project will cost US$42 million and not the US$88 million officially announced by the government.

In a statement yesterday, DNMZ also clarified the scope of their involvement on the complex mega project.

“DNMZ are engaged to do the design of the civil and structural aspects of the interchange. However, we are not the project managers of the same,” read the statement.

DNMZ said the company was not involved in some aspects of the project, which included the relocation of services costs, professional fees of the other consultants, electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, mechanical engineers, and EIA specialists amongst others as well as the cost of enabling works such as detours and traffic accommodation.

The company also stated that it was not involved in the compensation of property owners, relocation of people affected by the works, complexities associated with working on live site and payment of royalties for extraction of gravel and aggregates.

“As DNMZ, we have full confidence in the professional team working on the project and assure the nation of Zimbabwe that a world class product has been designed and is being constructed,” said the statement.

Transport Minister Felix Mhona signed the framework deal with Fossil Holdings chief executive Obey Chimuka on behalf of TEFOMA consortium consisting of Tensor Construction and Masimba Holdings.

Work, however, is currently moving smoothly at Mbudzi traffic circle following the completion of reinforced concrete and steel structures that will hold pillars for the Glen Norah bridge housing a slip lane heading into the Harare-Masvingo Highway.

The complex flyover is a major civil engineering work that the completed reinforced concrete and steel structure is very essential and can cope easily with the continual vibration of thousands of heavy vehicles a day.