Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
LOCAL authorities in Matabeleland North have implored Government to timeously release funds allocated to them through the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) for them to complete road works before the rainy season.
This was said by Matabeleland North provincial development coordinator Mrs Sithandiwe Ncube when she briefed Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo and permanent secretary in the Office of Vice President General (Retired) Costantino Chiwenga, Major Gen (Rtd) Godfrey Chanakira in Victoria Falls yesterday.
Minister Moyo and Maj Gen (Rtd) Chanakira are leading a team of heads of Government officials and roads engineers on a tour of ERRP and other roads projects across Matabeleland North.
The tour started yesterday in Victoria Falls and will conclude in Umguza district on Saturday.
Despite challenges faced by local authorities, Maj Gen (Rtd) Chanakira said he was impressed with progress made by Victoria Falls City Council which received about $12 million out of the $105 million it was allocated through ERRP.
Government allocated $554 million to Matabeleland North under ERRP2 that was officially launched by President Mnangagwa in April and $58 million has been accessed so far.
“We are grateful for the visit which has opened eyes in the local authorities. Local authorities have expressed concern on the delay in disbursement of funds after making procurements and we hope that the permanent secretary will take this up,” said Mrs Ncube.
In an update report, Victoria Falls City engineer Ms Sherinah Sibanda said among challenges faced by the local authority was procurement of materials, access to fuel which is sold in United States dollars while where it is available in local currency the price is exorbitant.
Delays in the procurement process which takes more than two weeks after submission of documents and lack of equipment were also cited.
Ms Sibanda said Victoria Falls has unique challenges in its road works because of the Kalahari sands which make maintenance of storm drains a nightmare.
“We are almost done with the first phase which involve reconstruction of roads, gravelling and making of drainage systems in Mkhosana and Chinotimba. Most outstanding work in this phase is drainage which we have decided to outsource and procurement is ongoing as we have sent documents to the Procurement and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe. We can put overall progress at 50 percent but we expect work to move faster going forward,” said Ms Sibanda.
Work on phase two and three is yet to start and this will involve pothole filling, vegetation clearing and making storm drains on 23km road network.
The local authority has acquitted all ERRP funds received so far and waiting for disbursement of more finances to resume work.
The delegation toured two roads in Mfelandawonye which council officials said are key to urban development as they are ring roads, as well as another in Chinotimba which is a buffer into Madonkini and Railways sections of the suburb which are key to township tourism.
A visit to Victoria Falls-Kazungula road showed workmen busy clearing vegetation and grass on the road sides and also construction of kerbs near Kazungula border post to regulate haulage trucks so as to limit damage to the road.
Matabeleland North provincial roads Engineer Steven Kamutema said the whole road will be patched while work has also started on the 157km Cross Dete-Binga road.
Binga road is key to tourism and its state had been a cause for concern because of potholes.
“We have progressed well so far on our ERRP which started in May. We have toured Victoria Falls-Kazungula road whose scope of work is grass cutting, vegetation clearing and we are above 80 percent completion. We will also be touring Binga where have started work on the troublesome potholes while the wash-away close to Binga centre has been completed,” said Eng Kamutema.
He said phase one of rehabilitation of Binga-Siabuwa-Sengwa Road has been completed while phase two which involves re-gravelling has started.— @ncubeleon
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