Online Reporter
MASSIVE implementation of infrastructural development projects is underway in Matabeleland South province, which is the host province for this year’s National Independence Day celebrations.
The legacy projects include construction of classrooms, science laboratories, teachers’ houses, clinics, bridges and roads.
The roads under construction include the Gwanda-Maphisa Road which connects several districts and links important economic hubs such as the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) Antelope Estate, Makwe Irrigation Scheme, two border posts and tourist attractions in the Matobo Hills area.
The road will significantly reduce travel time between Gwanda and surrounding districts, particularly Matobo district.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, who took the media on a tour of the ongoing road works in Matabeleland South province this week, said the road rehabilitation programme in Matabeleland South goes beyond preparations for the Independence Day celebrations.
He said the road rehabilitation works reflect the Second Republic’s commitment to improving the people’s lives.
Minister Mhona said it was therefore important for the media to highlight the implementation of such development projects so that citizens appreciate the progress being made in rebuilding national infrastructure.
Government which in 2021 declared the country’s road network a state of disaster, has since then made significant progress in improving the state of the country’s roads.
Under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP), Government has been allocating resources to local authorities in both urban and rural areas for roads rehabilitation.
The incessant rains being received across the country continue to damage the roads and destroy bridges. Some of the roads in both urban and rural areas are beyond repair and as such need to be reconstructed.
Driving along some of the roads has become a nightmare because of the potholes that are not only damaging vehicles but are also causing accidents.
In the rural areas, some roads are no longer passable which means communities are now finding it difficult to travel as buses no longer service their areas.
The poor state of the roads is adversely affecting service delivery countrywide hence the move by the Government to avail resources for roads rehabilitation under ERRP.
Roads are critical for the movement of goods, and as such, we want to commend the Government for prioritising road rehabilitation.
We want at this juncture, to implore the private sector to complement Government efforts to improve the country’s road network.
It is encouraging that some companies have already made a commitment to fund the reconstruction of some roads under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement.
This is as it should be because a good road network improves business efficiency and profitability.
