Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE Government has secured new equipment, including tractors, to resuscitate road maintenance units across the country.
This effort seeks to ensure consistent monitoring and maintenance of roads reconstruction under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP2), reflecting the Second Republic’s commitment to infrastructure development.
In addition to reviving road maintenance units, plans are underway to establish asphalt plants nationwide to complement these efforts.
The road maintenance units, which fall under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, consist of 180 units.
Recently, the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) secured two million litres of fuel to assist road authorities with their projects, a measure aimed at alleviating challenges in procuring fuel.
Yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, accompanied by Deputy Minister Joshua Sacco, Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe, and other officials, launched the resuscitation initiative in Harare.
The minister first commissioned tractors purchased from HASST Zimbabwe, before announcing the operational responsibilities of the road maintenance units.
“As a ministry, we have started this project to ensure that while we rehabilitate our roads, we also maintain them,” said Minister Mhona. “It was a directive from Cabinet to resuscitate all our Road Maintenance Units.”
The programme will ensure that all 10 provinces receive tractors and equipment for road maintenance. These units will provide essential first-line services to significantly reduce road deterioration and maintain quality roads.
Minister Mhona said they have also procured road marking machines to improve visibility, especially at night.
He called for continued collaboration among parastatals like ZINARA and the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.
Regarding the establishment of asphalt plants, Minister Mhona said the goal is to produce essential materials domestically rather than relying on imports.
The initiative seeks to ensure that each province has an asphalt plant, with Bulawayo and Harare already receiving procurement and delivery.
The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development, Cde Tawanda Karikoga, said he was confident that the newly acquired tractors will enhance road maintenance efforts, leading to improved road safety and accessibility.
The Managing Director of HASST Zimbabwe, Mr Walter Chigwada, commended the Government’s recognition of local companies, adding that they will in turn source materials locally to support the country’s economy.
The resuscitation of road maintenance units is seen as a crucial step in strengthening the country’s infrastructure, which is vital for achieving the vision of becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
Road construction is recognised as a key economic enabler, and these initiatives aim to support sustainable development across the nation.
