Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
KWEKWE City Council is proposing to introduce a road levy to fund the development of roads and drainage systems in areas managed by co-operatives and third-party entities.
This initiative aims to address the infrastructure challenges faced by these areas, ensuring they receive essential services and amenities.
The proposal was tabled by the local authority’s head of the works department Engineer, John Mhike during a recent full council meeting.
“Most of the suburbs with poor road networks were developed by third parties such as co-operatives who sold them at cheap prices and did not fully service roads and drainage systems,” he said.
Eng Mhike said the local authority has limited funds to service the roads and drainage systems, adding that a road levy should therefore be introduced.
“There are reasons why roads are bad in some areas especially those that were under co-operatives, those stands were purchased at US$6 per square metre instead of the normal price. As a council, we cannot afford to fix those roads, and maybe if we talk of introducing a road levy of some sort it would help,” he said
Eng Mhike was responding to councillors who had expressed concern over the deplorable state of the road network and drainage systems in their wards.
The matter was raised by Ward 9 Councillor Maxwell Judha.
“I have reported several times on the road situation in my ward and nothing has been done. I am now wondering if my submissions as a councillor are being considered at all,” he said.
“I have also reported on the poor drainage system but only a small portion around the bridge has been poorly attended to creating a huge pond which has become a mosquito breeding space.”
Kwekwe Mayor Clr Albert Zinhanga said the local authority is addressing the road network problem at a snail’s pace due to the unavailability of funds.
He also told councillors to wait for their turn to have the roads fixed.
“I am also affected as the mayor because there are no roads in Masasa, the grader operator just worked on a small portion of about 100 meters and left. Residents are complaining but just like any other councillor I am waiting for my turn for the roads in my ward to be fixed,” said Clr Zinhanga.
