Chiefs fume over roads

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
CHIEFS from Matabeleland South province have called on road authorities to urgently address the poor state of roads, which has forced transport operators to abandon routes in most rural areas.

The traditional leaders said most villagers were now stranded after public transport operators abandoned the routes citing poor roads.

Chief Bango from Mangwe district said most trunk roads had become impassable due to poor maintenance.

“The roads are bumpy and the graders that authorities assign are not solving the problem. The road from Ingwizi to Bango for instance is full of potholes and not good for vehicles,” said the chief, speaking in Plumtree during a meeting of traditional leaders last week.

“When the roads are graded, the holes remain unattended and each time it rains these potholes worsen.”

He said villagers were struggling to get transport to their rural destinations and were left at the mercy of private transporters who charge exorbitant fares.

Chief Masendu from Bulilima district said villagers were now relying on kombis after bus operators pulled out from some routes.

He villagers were now forced to pay R60 for a distance of about 50 kilometres instead of the usual R30.

The chiefs complained that councils have not been repairing roads for many years.

Chief Masendu said while DDF and the local authorities were doing grading, their interventions were short term.

“As far as roads are concerned my area is the worst. In fact the whole district of Bulilima has poor roads. We’ve resolved as a community that villagers contribute some money towards buying diesel to have the roads graded as a temporary measure,” he said.

The chiefs said the poor road network was also affecting access to health facilities including transportation of patients by ambulances.

Chief Malachi Masuku from Matobo district said the government should allocate more funding for road maintenance in rural communities.

Mangwe chief executive officer, Nketha Mangoye Dlamini recently admitted that 60 percent of roads in the district were in a sorry state with maintenance being hindered by inadequate funding.