. . . teams work in all provinces

Herald Reporters
The new political dispensation has prioritised the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of roads and bridges throughout the country, with road authorities having to go on overdrive after receiving unprecedented budgetary allocations.

As part of its “deliverables” under the party’s election manifesto, Zanu-PF promises to “rehabilitate all roads in towns and major cities to world class standards. Rehabilitate (the) rail network system, including around industrial areas.”

The party also outlines its plan to re-route all roads in major towns in conformity with a new national transport setup and rehabilitate ancillary transport infrastructure including road signs, traffic lights, street lighting, storm water drainage systems including creating and maintaining servitude lanes/areas as necessary. The programme is being co-ordinated through a Project Steering Committee (PSC), which provides policy guidance.

According to our provincial bureaus, tangible change can be seen on the country’s major roads as well as truck routes.

The new political dispensation’s thrust for Zimbabwe to have a well-developed, trafficable and safe roads has seen the rehabilitation of major roads in Harare which had been rendered untrafficable due to years of neglect by the MDC-T led council.

Phase II of the Government’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) is already underway, which according to the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) focuses on major rehabilitation works, reconstruction of damaged bridges, including preventive periodic maintenance works and rehabilitation of failed sections of the road net- work.

The Project Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, also comprises of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development; Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing; and the District Development Fund (DDF).

In a State of the City Address recently, Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni hailed the road rehabilitation under the emergency fund from Government saying the was starting to undertake some meaningful road rehabilitation works.

“A total of $ 17 million has been pledged and over $12 million has been disbursed to the City,” he said.

“To date, over 400km of roads have been fixed of potholes and rehabilitated, patching of 325km has been done.”

Some of the roads that have been completed or are still being repaired include Bishop Gaul Avenue, Gletwin Road, Waterfalls Avenue, George Drive, Harare Drive, Aspindale and Highglen roads.

Under the programme, Harare’s priority has been on arterial roads, while access roads are also being rehabilitated.

In the Midlands, provincial and district heads have commended the new Government administration for bringing in tangible change which has seen an improved infrastructure development in the province.

In separate interviews, district and provincial heads said the province was taking a major facelift in terms of development in the short period that the new Government has been in place.

Midlands Provincial Roads Engineer, Eng Stephen Kamutema said the province has so far repaired roads and damaged bridges, some of which had been lying unattended for years.

He said one of the major bridges that the province has since completed with support and funding from the new administration was the Mwenezi Bridge in Mberengwa that had cut connection between Mberengwa and West Nicholson.

“With support and funding from the new Government administration, we have also repaired the famous Gokwe gully that had become a menace cutting off Gokwe Town from most of the Gokwe South districts.

“Apart from adhering to our routine roads maintenance work, we have also completed some major road maintenance like the Gokwe-Siyabuwa Road, we have managed to maintain that road and connect it with Matabeleland North.

“We have also maintained the 133 km Gokwe-Choda road and roped in the services of the community there to clear the bushy road sides. Approximately we have used over $7 million on roads and bridge repairs in the province so far and with the support from Government, we have lined up more roads project in the province,” he said.

At least 1 000km of Mashonaland Central’s road network has been rehabilitated and maintained as part of the 100-day targets that were set by President Mnangagwa when he assumed power in November last year.

In an interview, Mashonaland Central Provincial Administrator, Mr Cosmas Chiringa said local authorities alone rehabilitated and maintained over 400km of the province’s road network including resurfacing and resealing at a cost of more than $1 million, while the District Development Fund rehabilitated and maintained more than 600km at a cost of more than US$400 000.

“At least 1 000km of road network has been rehabilitated and maintained at a cost of $1.4 million in Mashonaland Central during the 100-day targets that were set by President Mnangagwa when he assumed power in November last year,” he said.

“Guruve Rural District Council gravelled 20km of the Nyavhuti-Dunavert-Penrose Road at a cost of $98 000, 10km of motorised grading at the Horseshoe Club Road at a cost of $25 000, resealing of Guruve Growth Point at a cost of $102 000.

“Chaminuka Rural District Council managed to tar the 4km Tipperary Road at a cost of $100 000, while Bindura Rural District Council maintained about 100km of road network at a cost of $80 000, Rushinga spent $232 930 on gravelling their roads, Muzarabani District Council spent $33 000 on maintaining Aurelia Road.”

He added: “Mazowe Rural District Council resealed and resurfaced 6.5km of roads in Glendale and Concession at a total cost of $210 000, while Pfura Rural District Council rehabilitated and maintained roads in six wards at a cost of $430 000.”

Government has also accelerated road construction and maintenance works in Mashonaland West province.

The projects in the province include some parts along the Harare-Gweru and Harare-Chirundu dualisation projects that received a major boost from President Mnangagwa’s administration after Operation Restore Legacy.

At least 9km has been constructed with only surfacing remaining on the 10km stretch along the Harare-Gweru Highway dualisation projects starting from Norton.

Other projects include resurfacing of sections of the Harare-Chirundu Highway starting from Mt Hampden while feasibility studies have been carried out for the Makuti-Chirundu stretch.

The project will involve widening of a 15km stretch that includes the dangerous Wafa Wafa steep and winding section.

In an interview, Mashonaland West provincial roads engineer Mr Finale Mapurisa, however, said progress had been hampered by the shortage of heavy equipment such as dozers.

Among the projects that have been delayed include the Alaska-Copper Queen road.