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MANICALAND roads are expected to undergo a major facelift this year following the allocation of more funds from both the Treasury and the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA).
Most roads in Manicaland are in a bad state after they were damaged by the incessant rains being received.
Government is prioritising the upgrading and rehabilitation of the road network, with emphasis on completion of ongoing rehabilitation works of major roads and the re-gravelling of feeder roads.
In his 2023 National Budget statement, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube allocated $70,5 billion under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRPII) for the implementation of priority trunk and tertiary road projects in provinces and districts, as well as major arteries in urban areas.
In addition, the Road Fund will support maintenance of roads under road authorities, with $41 billion being channelled towards various road projects, and a further $43,5 billion being allocated to other road infrastructure assets covering tollgate infrastructure and the Vehicle Inspection Department’s weighbridges.
Manicaland is expected to get a big chunk from the budgetary allocations, with provincial road engineer, Engineer Kudzi Maganga saying they submitted annual plans for major projects for approval following the recent start of the financial year.
Tenders were also invited for the general routine maintenance work.
ZINARA has allocated more than $1, 4 billion to all the local authorities in Manicaland.
In its 2023 allocations, ZINARA allocated $295 million to Mutare City Council, Rusape Town Council ($102 million), Chipinge Town Council ($116 million), Buhera Rural District Council ($107 million), Chimanimani RDC ($120 million), Chipinge ($112 million), Makoni ($107 million), Mutare RDC ($107 million), Mutasa RDC ($112 million) and Nyanga RDC ($133 million).
In an effort to increase access and coverage in rural communities, the District Development Fund (DDF) is re-gravelling and maintaining rural feeder roads and was allocated $3 billion by Treasury.
Engineer Maganga said while they are waiting for the approval of funding for the major projects, they are seized with the maintenance of some of the roads that are in bad shape, among them the Mutare Fly-over, Nyazura-Chivhu and the Rusape-St Annes Roads.
“Tenders for routine maintenance work for the Mutare Fly-over, Nyazura-Chivhu and Rusape-St Annes Roads have been flighted. We will be working on these roads as soon as possible since they are now in a real bad state. Work on the reconstruction of the Gairezi River Bridge which was stalled by heavy rains received in that area late last year is almost complete.
“For the major projects, we submitted our annual plans recently and we are waiting for their approval. As soon as they are approved, work will commence after following all the due processes,” said Engineer Maganga.
Makoni Rural District Council’s chief executive officer, Dr Edward Pise said they will use their allocation from ZINARAto rehabilitate roads that are being damaged by the heavy rains currently being received in the district.He also said Council will add a further $280m to the roads rehabilitation project.
“The district is receiving good rains which are good for our agriculture based economy. However, these rains have seriously damaged our road network. With farmers harvesting their crops, especially tobacco and maize, our roads must be good and trafficable so that farmers have easy access to the markets.
“We have been allocated $107m by ZINARA. We have started work on our two major townships, Nyazura and Headlands, and with the rainy season over, we will start working on gravel and earth roads.
“Some communities are organising themselves and contributing fuel so that council attends to their roads. This has happened in Wards 13, 16, 26, 19, 24 and 39 and this is very encouraging,” said Dr Pise.
Rusape Town Council acting secretary, Mr Togarepi Nerwande said they were allocated $102 million, which is enough to carry out drainage works and pothole patching.
“We have been allocated $102 million by ZINARA this year. A total of $90 million will be channelled towards the Mabvazuva-Magamba Road drainage system, which has been problematic for a long time. The remaining $12m will be for premix pothole patching on our tarred roads.
“We will also use our own funds to repair road equipment such as graders, tippers and front-end loaders,” said Mr Nerwande.
Mutasa Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr George Bandure said the local authority has lined up a number of road maintenance projects which include the Grange Road re-sealing, Grange Road signage, construction of the Nyamukwarara Footbridge and the tarring of Imbeza, Fairview and Hauna Roads.
Chipinge Rural District Council’s finance director, Mr Rekai Murire said: “A total of $561,9 million will be channelled towards road construction and rehabilitation. We are rehabilitating some bridges which were damaged by Cyclone Eline years back and we hope to complete this project this year. We will complete some of the projects we have already commenced once we receive our funding from ZINARA.”
Chipinge Town Council has made remarkable progress on rehabilitating its road network through devolution, ERRP and ZINARA funds.
This year, the town council was allocated $791 709 793 under devolution funds and $118 931 071 from ZINARA.
They also budgeted $344 million of their own funds for road rehabilitation.
Acting Chipinge town secretary, Mr James Mutemera, said: “We will complete the tarring of the Chinheya-Dzonzai Road, which is left with 0,97km. On this road, we have budgeted a total of $208 million to complete the project.
“Using the ZINARA funds, we intend to work on the 0.6km Gaza E-Dzonzai Road and we have budgeted $118 million,” he said.
Mr Mutemera said the council will also work on the 2km Makatapeya Road, where they have budgeted a total of 144 million.
“Some of the internal funds will be used to construct the Chatogo Rank where we will use $34 million. We will also work on the Upper town Road and the Medium Density culverts, which will cost $133 million. The council will also work on the St Kelvin Road which will link St Kelvin and the Central Business District where we intend to use $66 million,” said Mr Mutemera.
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