Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) released more than ZWG4,6 billion (US$175,5 million) to road authorities across the country in the first half of the year, giving a major boost to road rehabilitation and maintenance works amid growing demands for improved infrastructure.
The disbursement, which represents 47,1 percent of the approved ZWG9,8 billion (US$363 million) 2026 road maintenance budget, places the country’s road maintenance programme firmly on course, with authorities expected to accelerate projects during the second half of the year.
The latest figures represent a significant improvement from the same period last year when road authorities had utilised about ZWG3,3 billion (US$127 million), equivalent to only 29 percent of the annual road maintenance budget.
In a report issued yesterday, Zinara said the increased flow of funds was part of its continued efforts to ensure road authorities receive resources timeously to implement planned maintenance and rehabilitation programmes.
The development is expected to bring relief to motorists and communities that have endured deteriorating road conditions, particularly on major highways, urban roads and rural routes that have become increasingly difficult to maintain because of limited resources.
“The strong performance recorded during the first half of the year places the 2026 road maintenance programme firmly on course. The increased disbursements demonstrate Zinara’s continued commitment to ensuring that road authorities receive funding on time to implement planned road maintenance and rehabilitation programmes across the country,” reads the statement.
The Department of Roads has already received its full allocation of ZWG421,4 million (US$16 million), enabling maintenance works on the national road network to proceed without interruption.
The Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida), meanwhile, has received ZWG115,1 million (US$4,4 million), representing 47,3 percent of its annual allocation, for the improvement of roads in rural communities.
Rida has already begun strengthening its capacity to monitor projects, using part of its first-half allocation to purchase 19 supervision vehicles.
The vehicles are expected to improve project supervision and enable officials to effectively monitor road works being undertaken in remote areas.
Provincial utilisation of the funds has also begun gathering pace, although the rate differs depending on the stage of implementation, procurement and contractor mobilisation.
Mashonaland West is leading provincial utilisation at 47,5 percent, followed by Mashonaland Central at 46,7 percent.
Masvingo has utilised 36 percent of its allocation, Midlands 35,6 percent, Matabeleland South 35 percent, Mashonaland East 31,1 percent and Manicaland 30,3 percent.
Zinara has said the varying utilisation rates did not necessarily indicate a lack of progress, as some authorities had moved directly into implementation after receiving funds, while others were still completing procurement processes, finalising designs and mobilising contractors.
“The varying utilisation levels across provinces largely reflect the different stages of project implementation. While some road authorities moved quickly into implementation following the release of funds, others have been completing procurement processes, finalising designs and mobilising contractors,” said Zinara.
The agency said road construction and maintenance activities were expected to gain further momentum during the second half of the year as the construction season gets into full swing.
Several projects are already benefiting from the increased funding, with Zinara monitoring works being undertaken across the country.
In the southern region, works include the rehabilitation of a 24-kilometre section of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, incorporating the construction of 10 culverts and two shelf culverts.
Other projects include the rehabilitation of Cecil Road in Bulawayo and reconstruction works on Matopos Road.
Outside Bulawayo, projects include the rehabilitation of Bridge Road in Mutare, Makoni Road in Makoni District and Zisco Steel Road in Kwekwe, among several other road projects being implemented by road authorities nationwide.
The funding is also being used to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to undertake routine road maintenance without relying heavily on hired machinery.
Meanwhile, implementation of the national Weighbridges Programme is expected to accelerate during the second half of the year following the conclusion of key procurement processes.
The weighbridges programme is expected to play a key role in protecting Zimbabwe’s road infrastructure by improving enforcement against overloaded vehicles, which are widely regarded as a major contributor to premature road deterioration.
Zinara has said it would continue releasing funds in line with approved budgets while strengthening monitoring mechanisms to ensure that public resources translate into tangible improvements on the ground.
