Road works face delays

Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Chitungwiza Municipality, which is in the process of rehabilitating three major roads, is likely to face delays in completing the road works because of the challenges being experienced in procuring supplies.

Last month, the local authority received $476 233 from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) for road repairs and the purchase of equipment under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme.

The project is expected to be completed by April 10. Preparatory work for road sealing on Hombarume Road (1,8km) has already been completed.

Currently, Mukomborerwa Road (1,89km) is being worked on, while road repairs on Mutasu Road (3,3 km) have not yet begun.

In an interview, Chitungwiza roads superintendent Engineer Daniel Majoni said the shortage of manpower and delays by the procurement board are negatively affecting progress.

“We are no longer able to meet the deadline for completing this project because of internal challenges like procurement and disbursement of funds – it is taking too long. Currently, we are working with 15 people, when we need manpower of about 68 people,” he said.

Meanwhile, council has given residents whose stands are blocking storm water drains a seven-day ultimatum to regularise their stands.

“We investigated what led to the bad state of these roads and we found out that it was the stormwater drains that were blocked by the structures built on wrong places,” said Engineer Majoni.

“However, we have asked them to readjust their structures that overlapped into the road, where these drains are supposed to be.”