Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) has disbursed $33 billion to road authorities in the country out of an allocation of $41 billion as Government continues to inject more funds towards road rehabilitation.
Between January and June, the Department of Roads received $15,3 billion from Zinara while the Road Infrastructure Development Agency got $10,9 billion. Bulawayo has received $752 million out of an allocation of $817 million while Matabeleland South local authorities received $589 million out of an allocation of $1,1 billion.
Matabeleland North has received $600 million out of an expected $1,2 billion while Masvingo got $253 million out of an expected $1,1 million.
Midlands’ local authorities received $773 million out of an allocation of $2 billion.
Mashonaland West was given $632 million out of an allocation of $1,7 billion while Mashonaland East received $422 million out of an allocation of $1,2 billion.
Harare got $1,5 billion out of an allocation of $2,6 billion, while $327 million out of an allocation of $1 billion was channelled towards the rehabilitation of roads in Mashonaland Central.
Manicaland received $561 million out of an allocation of $1,4 billion.
Government is committed to rehabilitating the road network as infrastructural development is key to attaining an upper middle-income economy by 2030. Most of the country’s roads have outlived their lifespan and the rains that were received during the last rainy season worsened their condition.
Funds have also been released for the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo- Victoria Falls road. The massive rehabilitation works started following intervention by President Mnangagwa in response to an outcry by motoring public and business leaders. The Bulawayo- Victoria Falls highway is a strategic trade route in the regional north-to-south corridor, linking Zimbabwe with South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia as well as DRC.
Government is also implementing the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) 2 and Treasury allocated $130 billion towards the programme this year.
Another investor has engaged Government to rehabilitate 120km Old Gwanda Road under a built, operate and transfer scheme and has US$150 million for the project.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Abedinico Ncube said the efforts being made by Government to fund road maintenance works in the province were commendable.
He urged road authorities to ensure that they acquit funds on time so that more funds can be released.
“Government under the Second Republic has made significant efforts to improve the province’s road network. Road authorities have been resourced in order to maintain roads and Government has also come up with various initiatives to improve the road network,” said Minister Ncube.
“For example, we have the dualisation of the Beitbridge- Harare Road which will benefit the province in a great way and usher in a lot of economic development. There is also tarring of the Gwanda- Maphisa Road which is underway and tarring of the West Nicholson- Mberengwa Road which links Matabeleland South to Midlands.”
Minister Ncube said the province’s state of roads is key to economic development. He said the disbursement of funds is a clear indication that Government is leaving no one and no place behind.
Minister Ncube urged various stakeholders to come in and partner Government in infrastructure development.
He said Government has created an environment that is convenient for investors.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube said there have been massive road maintenance works under the Second Republic which have helped to improve the state of roads in the metropolitan province.
“The image of our city is greatly improving by the day because of road works that are taking place as a result of funds being released by Government. Under the Second Republic Government has ensured the continuous release of funds to road authorities and we even saw the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme being introduced,” she said.
“Bulawayo has benefited significantly. As a country we are working towards attaining Vision 2030 and infrastructure development is one the key pillars of NDS1 which informs the national vision.”
To attend to the worsening state of roads countrywide, Government introduced the ERRP in 2021.
This saw significant progress being made in the rehabilitation of Bulawayo’s roads with Siyephambili Drive, George Avenue and 23rd Avenue being some of the major roads rehabilitated.–@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter