‘State of border roads worrying’

Lawrence Chitumba Mash Central Correspondent
Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Minister Monica Mavhunga has decried the poor state of roads to the borders of Kanyemba and Mukumbura, which remain unsurfaced. She said the current progress and commitment by Government to rehabilitate and construct roads in the province was welcome, considering that road infrastructure is the key enabler for economic growth under the devolution agenda.

Speaking in Bindura during last week’s visit by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza when he toured the Mt Darwin-Mukumbura Road, Minister Mavhunga said the stretches that were recently resurfaced along the Harare-Bindura Road are the kind of roads that the province desires, especially for trunk roads.

“Our province remains seriously concerned about the poor state of our regional routes to the borders of Kanyemba and Mukumbura.

“They are still unsurfaced more than three-and-a-half decades after independence. The current progress and commitment by Government at least gives us relief, given that road infrastructure is a key enabler for economic growth under the devolution agenda.

“The stretches resurfaced along the Harare-Bindura Road are indeed the kind of roads that we desire to have, especially for our trunk roads.

“Several projects are ongoing as we speak which include the Bindura-Matepatepa Road, St Albert’s-Dotito Road, Mahuwe-Kanyemba Road and the construction of the notorious Pembi Bridge.

“We appreciate the effort by the Roads Department staff. We will continue to appeal on their behalf for more resources to ensure that they are able to meet their monthly targets.”

Minister Mavhunga said there were other outstanding road works in the province like the rehabilitation of Hoya Bridge in Muzarabani and Link Bridge where people are crossing through the riverbed which is dangerous during the rainy season.

She said the province was also appealing for signage on its roads in line with SADC and international trends to remind and warn drivers in an effort to reduce road carnage, as well as the completion of Mupfurudzi Toll Gate.

Minister Mavhunga said the province did not have a fire tender, which compromised the response to emergencies.

She appealed to Minister Matiza to consider providing the tenders under his portfolio which will be managed by local authorities such as Bindura Municipality.