Gweru moves to fix roads

Midlands Bureau Chief

GWERU City Council has procured 15 tonnes of asphalt as the local authority begins the process of rehabilitating some roads in the city, which are littered with potholes.

Most of the roads in the Midlands capital are in a bad state and un-trafficable.
In an interview yesterday, Gweru mayor Councillor Martin Chivhoko said they have started patching potholes in the city centre.

“We have started filling potholes in the central business district after we bought 15 tonnes of tar. We are starting with the roads in the city centre before going to other roads across the city,” he said.
Clr Chivhoko said they also managed to repair four road traffic lights, which had not been working for some time.

“For a long time, the city had no functional traffic light. We have repaired four, which is a positive development. Plans are underway to repair all of the traffic lights in the city centre to arrest the traffic chaos,” he said.

All 16 of the city’s traffic lights have not been working for the past nine years. The local authority could not repair them due to a legal wrangle with a contractor, Emobuild Construction, which was engaged in 2013 and paid in full to install the traffic lights in the city centre.

In 2018, Gweru City Council revealed that it had awarded Drewland Mining Company a tender to replace the electricity-powered traffic lights with solar-powered ones, but the deal collapsed. Clr Chivhoko said there is progress in terms of the servicing of residential stands in Mkoba 21 suburb.

“I am dissatisfied with the prolonged process, but there is now progress. A tender has been awarded for the Environmental Impact Assessment for Shamrock Infill, which will determine future actions,” he said.

“I acknowledge concerns regarding the irregular sale of stands in Shamrock Infill and all necessary processes will be followed.”
Clr Chivhoko said a weekend flea market has been established to accommodate informal traders and stimulate economic activity.

“Efforts to improve Ivene Market and Kombayi Market continue. We have also noted that there is a decline in cholera cases, which is a positive development. We need to continue maintaining hygiene,” he said.