Mat South roads need urgent upgrading

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
MOST roads in Matabeleland South Province are in a deplorable state as they have outlived their lifespan and need urgent upgrading.

In an interview, Matabeleland South Provincial Roads engineer Joseph Makokove said the province has a total road network of 11 595 kilometres and only 53 kilometres could be classified as very good.

“The province has a total road network of 11 595 kilometres of which 1 050 kilometres is surfaced while 10 542 kilometres comprises gravel and earth roads. Most of these roads are in a poor state and need immediate attention,” he said.

“53 kilometres of the total road network can be classified as very good, 988 kilometres is good, 2 464 kilometres is fair, 1 263 kilometres is poor while 6 824 kilometres can be classified as very poor.

“The surfaced roads have outlived their lifespan resulting in numerous potholes, edge drops and edge breaks. Most of the unsurfaced roads are not trafficable due to wash aways and corrugations. About 8 000 kilometres of the province’s road network is in a deplorable state.’’

Eng Makokove said there was a need to upgrade the capacity of surfaced roads as most were designed for low traffic but were actually handling high volumes of traffic.

He said there was also a need to regravel or even upgrade gravel roads to surfaced roads while earth roads have to be gravelled.

“There is a need to upgrade all roads within the province in order to improve the road network but we are facing financial constraints.

“For now we are able to refill surfaced roads instead of upgrading them and we are carrying out maintenance works of grading gravel and earth roads due to limited resources,’’ he said.

Eng Makokove said some of the projects that were ongoing in the province comprised resealing of 44 kilometres along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road, construction of 10 kilometres along the Gwanda-Maphisa Road, construction of five kilometres along the Mphoengs-Maphisa Road and construction of 10 kilometres along the West Nicholson-Mberengwa Road.

Other projects include dualisation of 4,32 kilometres along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road, construction of 14 kilometres along the Guyu-Manama Road, widening of Esigodini Tollgate and fencing of 50 kilometres along Bulawayo- Beitbridge Road.

He said $29,5 million had been allocated to the province by Treasury towards road works while $6,1 million had been allocated through Zinara.

He said various local authorities in the province had also been allocated funds towards road maintenance works.

“Most of the areas in the province are inaccessible during the rainy season due to unavailability and inadequate structures or damaged structures.

“Among these is the Tuli River Bridge in Gwanda which was damaged in 2000 by Cyclone Eline, Bubi River Bridge in Beitbridge which was damaged in 2013, Nkankezi River Bridge in Filabusi which was damaged in 2017 by Cyclone Dineo and also Mtshabezi River Bridge in Gwanda which needs to be upgraded.

“A new bridge is also required on Thekwane River in Bulilima,’’ Eng Makokove said.

— @DubeMatutu.