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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
BEITBRIDGE Rural District Council (RDC) has started rehabilitating roads and other infrastructure damaged by torrential rains and those that need upgrading, an official has said.
The council’s chief executive officer, Mr Peter Ncube, said workers were already on the ground to ensure most roads were passable.
“We have started repairing damaged roads and, in some areas, we will be creating new links to improve issues of service delivery,” said Mr Ncube.
“So far, in Beitbridge West, our team is working the Sentinel-Pingwe road which links the town with Shashe in Ward 8. A grader, tractor, front-end loader and manpower are already on the ground.”
Mr Ncube said for roads in Beitbridge East, they had engaged Bitumen World to rehabilitate the infrastructure. He said they were still finalising the initial works before the contractor could move on the ground.
“For roads in Beitbridge East, we have finished the tendering processes and we expect Bitumen World to move on site soon,” said Mr Ncube.
The Herald understands that some of the roads which would need rehabilitation are those linking the town with Zezani, Hwunga, Dumba, Chiredzi, Tshikwalakwala, Makombe, Fula, Masera, Shashe and Nhwali.
Beitbridge West parliamentarian Cde Thusani Ndou recently called on development agencies to partner with Government in attending to the poor road network.
He said the bad state of the roads had triggered transport problems for most villagers in the district after public transporters pulled out.
Private motorists have taken advantage of the situation to charge exorbitant fares, which are beyond the reach of many.
“We are happy to note that the Beitbridge RDC is now attending to the badly damaged roads. We had several meetings and feedback from members of the community and it is apparent that the poor state of the roads has resulted in transport shortages,” said Cde Ndou.
He said in most instances public transporters were sceptical to service routes due to the poor state of roads.
Cde Ndou said some of the roads which need urgent attention include the ones linking the town with Masera, Ndambe, Toporo, Swereki, and Malibeng.
He said there was also a need for road authorities to build climate-resilient culverts and bridges to avoid the recurrent damages linked to weather-induced disasters.
Echoing the same sentiments was Beitbridge East legislator Cde Albert Nguluvhe who said the move by the local authority was a welcome development towards improving service delivery.
“We appreciate this timeous move by the RDC. However, our concern is on some of the roads which are in a bad state and fall outside their jurisdiction. They need urgent attention,” said Cde Nguluvhe.
“I recommend that the RDC attends to all its damaged roads in the constituency to address some challenges communities are facing due to the limited public transport plying the area.
“It is also pleasing to note that the council has done a great job rehabilitating the Old Nuli to Dite road. At the same time, it is important that they build strong bridges and culverts”.
In Beitbridge East, the situation in the Tshikwalakwala area is regarded as critical after a bridge linking Beitbridge and Chiredzi was washed away by floods in January 2013.
The road also serves as a link for tourists accessing the Greater Limpopo Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA). It is also used by horticulture farmers in Beitbridge East constituency for the transportation of their products to markets in the border town.
The TFCA is made up of components from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique.
Online Reporter