Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has bought low-bed trailers and equipment to facilitate the transportation of heavy machinery as part of its efforts to recapitalise the Department of Roads’ maintenance units countrywide, while continuing to strengthen road rehab and enhance safety.
It has also purchased about 20 road marking machines, with two machines allocated to each province. The Department of Roads, which falls under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, is responsible for all aspects of transport management and infrastructural development within the country. It plans, designs, and manages national trunk roads, State roads and bridges.
In a statement, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development said that as part of the recapitalisation, it had acquired lowbed trailers (also called low-boy or low loader trailers) to facilitate the transportation of heavy machinery, including graders, rollers and bulldozers.
“The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is advancing efforts to improve road maintenance and road safety across the country through the ongoing recapitalisation of the Department of Roads’ maintenance units and the acquisition of new road marking equipment.
“On road maintenance capacity, the delivery of low-beds is underway to facilitate the transportation of heavy machinery, including graders, rollers and bulldozers, which cannot travel directly on public roads,” the ministry said.
On improved road markings, the ministry has acquired 20 road marking machines, with two machines allocated to each province, while urban areas will also benefit from support to improve road marking visibility and coverage.
“Clear, visible road markings are essential for guiding motorists, protecting pedestrians and reducing road safety risks. Through these initiatives, Government continues to strengthen road maintenance capacity and promote safer roads for all,” the ministry said.
This development comes after the Government announced last year that it was in the process of recapitalising the Department of Roads to upscale road construction and maintenance efforts towards Vision 2030 by constructing asphalt plants in all 10 provinces.
The asphalt plants will be used to produce premix for road reseals and pothole patching in road maintenance. Asphalt refers to a combination of bitumen (tar), sand, cement, and certain chemical additives that are mixed together at high temperatures, depending on engineers’ specifications, and is used for major construction projects.
In February last year, the Government also began resuscitating all Road Maintenance Units countrywide to ensure that all roads rehabilitated under Phase 2 of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme remain in good condition.
The 108 maintenance units fall under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and were launched by Minister Advocate Felix Mhona in Harare.
