adminNyore Madzianike Manicaland Bureau
MUTARE City Council should mobilise resources to improve the road network and avoid over reliance on the Zimbabwe National Road Administration. This was raised by councillors on Tuesday during a full council meeting where the town clerk was tasked to immediately come up with a sustainable plan aimed at rehabilitating the roads, which are currently in bad state.
Mutare Ward 12 councillor Mr Shepherd Jojo raised questions to city chief town planner Mr Richard Simbi as to why some roads still had potholes barely six months after being patched. He also questioned the capability of the engineering department in road maintenance.
Responding to Clr Jojo’s questions, Mutare Ward 17 councillor Mr John Nyamhoka, who sits in the public works committee said: “As public works committee we have tasked the town clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa to stop relying on Zinara and mobilise resources as council to rehabilitate the roads.”
Mr Simbi said council had already come up with a plan for rehabilitating the roads.
He said they were waiting for the rainy season to end for work to commence.
“We produced a plan for rehabilitation works. We have discussed with the town clerk and we have about $600 000 or $700 000 that we have as council which is independent from the $2 million we are set to receive from Zinara.
“Work is on stand still because of the limitations presented by the weather. Once the rains stop, work will commence,” he said.
Mr Simbi said once the weather permits, council will also start working on new roads.
Mayor Tatenda Nhamarare urged management to take the councillors complaints and recommendations made by the public works committee seriously.
He bemoaned the state of the roads in Mutare saying they needed immediate attention.
Online Reporter