By Nqobizitha Moyo
The rehabilitation of roads across Zimbabwe under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP2) is ongoing, with councils deploying funds they have obtained from the Government in an effort to make roads trafficable.
From Makonde, to Beitbridge, to Masvingo, to Bulawayo, road rehabilitation projects are either underway or scheduled to begin.
The Makonde Rural District Council, which has previously been praised by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development for its prudent use of devolution funds, is implementing road rehabilitation projects under its jurisdiction.
Makonde RDC has also earned praise from the community for its life-changing projects cutting across roads, clinics and schools construction.
The council is implementing most of the projects using devolution funds.
Some roads projects are being implemented using funds from the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP2).
Presently, new road works in Mhangura have excited the community, as they feel more transporter would ply their routes at reduced fares.
Equally, farmers are hopeful that once the roads have been fixed, they can easily transport their produce to the Grain Marketing Board.
Makonde RDC has engaged a private company to tar the 3km Post Office-Makonde Christian Hospital stretch.
Council chief executive officer, Mr Paradzayi Munyede, said: “Road rehabilitation is in progress on the Mhangura Post Office-Makonde Christian Hospital Road in Ward 11. The road is currently being sealed under the auspices of the ERRP2.”
Potholes have been patched on the 12km Mhangura-Chenanga Turn-off Road as efforts to ensure the Second Republic’s desire of making roads navigable is achieved.
The Government launched the ERRP2 following heavy rains that damaged most of the roads and realised that councils, especially urban ones that are run by the opposition, had not funds due to mismanagement and corruption, for them to repair the roads.
This saw the release of funds to councils, which then engage local companies involved in road construction, to rehabilitate the roads.
A number of roads have been rehabilitated in most towns and cities including Harare and Bulawayo, which had literally been orphaned by their councils that have focused more on looting resources and keeping power.
In Harare, Boshoff Drive that runs from Seke Road up to Ardbennie, had become a nightmare for motorists, many of whom had abandoned it due to crater-deep potholes.
However, after the Government intervention, the road is now in great shape and many motorists are now using it.
Other roads that have been fixed in Harare include Chiremba Road, Connaught Road in Avondale, and Paisley Road that runs through the Southerton Shopping Centre.
In Bulawayo, massive road works are set to begin under ERRP2, with the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road from Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue to Glenville Drive in Richmond suburb, and a 5km stretch along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road from Ascot Shopping Centre earmarked.
An additional 6km along Cecil Avenue are also set to be rehabilitated, together with Lady Stanley Avenue.
Provincial roads engineer for Bulawayo and Matabeleland North, Engineer Stephen Kamutema, said the Department of Roads was the implementing agency while Tensor Systems (Pvt) Limited, was the contractor.
Tensor Systems is one of the six companies contracted to rehabilitate the Harare-Beitbridge Highway.
“We have put a notice, marking the beginning of the whole process and as I speak there is a lot of planning and mobilisation of equipment including setting up the site office,” he said.
Eng Kamutema said they would be doing the roads in line with SADC standards as is happening on the Harare-Beitbridge Highway.
Due to the roads rehabilitation, Lady Stanley Avenue and a section of the Victoria Falls Road from Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue to Glenville Drive would be temporarily closed from July 27.
Recently, Bulawayo City Council was criticised for failing to fully use over $625 million allocated under ERRP2 causing in delays in the implementation of road rehabilitation projects in the city.
In Kariba, Nyaminyami Rural District Council chairperson, Councillor Golden Chirongoma, has implored the Government to speedily rehabilitate some key roads in the area.
“We welcome the construction of the Government Complex and the services that will come to our area,” he said.
“Our challenges at the moment include a poor road network. We welcome that the Karoi-Binga Road is being attended to.
“However, the stretch from Siakobvu going towards Karoi up to Sanyati River Bridge is the worst and at a pace of 10km per year, it would take us years to have a good road.”
