“Trenching of the fibre optic cable between Harare and Mutare has now been completed. We still hope that the cable will be launched before the end of the year if all goes according to plan,” he told The Herald.
Minister Chamisa said his ministry had failed to complete the project which was supposed to have been completed in June because of government logistical problems.
“Due to administrative and logistical challenges on our part, we have not been able to complete the project on time resulting in the postponement of completion dates twice this year. We still hope that the project will be commissioned before the end of the year as work that involves the laying of the cables is now 70 percent complete,” he said.
He said the greater part of the job had already been done as the problems bedeviling the project had been sorted out.
“In addition, filling of the laid down cable was now 60 percent complete and the logistical and administrative challenges that have been faced by Government in implementing this project were sorted out and this gives us hope that the project will still be commissioned before the end of the year.”
A Chinese company, Huawei, was contracted to implement the US$6.2 million project by the Zimbabwean government via the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.
Zimbabwe intends to lay another cable that will connect the country to the rest of the world through South Africa.