Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
REHABILITATION of roads under the Government-funded Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP2) has gathered momentum in Binga District where work had been lagging behind.
Three contractors, Zambezi Bulk Plant Hire, Apple Ridge and Bitumen were contracted to rehabilitate the 153 kilometre stretch between Cross Dete and Binga Centre. President Mnangagwa launched the US$400 million ERRP2 in March and the programme is moving at an impressive pace countrywide where it has touched lives especially through enhancing access to services and employment.
The programme is premised on the fact that the road network promotes beneficial social and economic activities through ensuring a smooth flow of goods and services. Matabeleland North was allocated more than $500 million for roadworks and the funds came through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, District Development Fund (DDF) and local authorities.
While the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway has been patched, with a majority of potholes that had characterised the road already filled, fixing of the Cross Dete-Binga Road has been lagging behind. The two roads are key to the province’s economy as they link the country to tourism destinations.
There have been concerns about the state of Cross Dete-Binga Road as the tourism district risked being isolated from the rest of the country because of the damaged road. Binga is accessible via Cross Dete and Lusulu off the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway as well as via Siabuwa-Binga Road which connects to Gokwe and Karoi in Midlands and Mashonaland West respectively.
Binga is a sleeping tourism giant with the potential to be an economic hub if the natural resources in the area are tapped into. There are sand beaches along the Zambezi River, hot springs, fishing, boating and a rich culture hence the need for a reliable road network.
Acting Binga District Development Coordinator (DDC) Mr Farai Marinyane said contractors are on the ground doing road works. He said Apple Ridge and Bitumen had been allocated sections of the road, one covering the stretch between Binga Centre and Sianzyundu and the other taking the stretch to Cross Dete.
Zambezi Bulk Plant Hire has been rehabilitating a wash away near Binga Centre where a section of the road was damaged by the rains on the edge of Zambezi River push back.
“We have three contractors working on the road and right now they are doing pothole patching and bush clearing to make the road trafficable. They will come back in the next phase to do edges and road shoulders. We are happy with progress so far. They had scheduled to finish by October 31 and we are hopeful they will have done a better part of the job,” said Mr Marinyane.
He could not reveal the amount allocated to the district under ERRP2 saying the funds came through three authorities. Delays have been caused partly by shortage of tar. Repair of Nsungwale Bridge that was damaged by floods early this year is almost complete with final touches being done.
Zambezi Bulk Plant Hire project manager engineer Brighton Mashonganyika said 95 percent work has been done on the rehabilitation of the wash away near Binga Centre.
“We are doing outstanding work which should take us a week before we finish the whole project. Half the road had been washed away and we have reinstated it and introduced new drains to control water movement,” he said.
Binga RDC chief executive Mr Joshua Muzamba said the local authority had completed clearing vegetation of all targeted roads and opened tenders for repair of roads funded through ERRP2 programme.
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