Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Writer
The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has disbursed ZWG6,278 billion to date, surpassing its revised annual budgetary target for this year of ZWG6,081 billion, as it continues to prioritise high-impact projects critical to national development.
In a recent update, Zinara said the strong performance reflects sound financial stewardship and a deliberate focus on strategic initiatives that enhance transport infrastructure and drive economic growth.
“The organisation will continue to prioritise high-impact projects, ensuring funding is directed towards strategic national initiatives that deliver significant benefits to the country’s transport infrastructure and economic growth,” said the agency.
“Zinara has demonstrated strong financial stewardship, having disbursed a total of ZWG 6,278 billion year-to-date. This figure surpasses the revised budgetary target of ZWG 6,081 billion for the same period, resulting in a favourable variance of approximately ZWG 197 million.
“The third quarter alone saw robust performance, with disbursements closing at ZWG 2,592 billion against a revised quarterly budget of ZWG 2,176 billion.”
A closer analysis of the disbursements shows clear alignment with national priorities and improving operational efficiencies within the road funding ecosystem.
High-impact projects received ZWG 3,983 billion, translating to an 83 percent utilisation rate of allocated funds. Zinara said the high absorption level reflects focused execution of major road rehabilitation and construction projects deemed critical for economic growth and national connectivity.
The authority added that the successful deployment of these funds is essential for long-term infrastructure development.
According to the agency, urban councils received ZWG1,292 billion, representing a 51 percent utilisation rate, while rural district councils received ZWG1.,811 billion, achieving a 64 percent utilisation rate.
The Department of Roads, which is responsible for trunk and primary roads, absorbed 53 percent of its allocation, amounting to ZWG 253,97 million.
The Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida), another key national entity, also received substantial funding in line with its mandate.
Zinara said the fuel disbursement programme recorded a notable 100 percent utilisation rate, deploying its full allocation of ZWG87,98 million to support operational mobility of road maintenance units.
Disbursements to the Vehicle Inspection Department are expected to deliver tangible benefits to motorists through strengthened inspection services, expansion of the inspection fleet and modernisation of testing facilities.
“These improvements are going to make vehicle inspections faster, more reliable and more widely accessible, while ensuring that only roadworthy vehicles are allowed on the roads,” said Zinara.
Similarly, funding support to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) is driving nationwide road safety awareness and education campaigns.
“These initiatives are helping reduce risky behaviour on the roads, protect lives, and create safer communities,” it noted.
Exemplary fund utilisation has been recorded across several road authorities, with four institutions achieving a 100 percent absorption rate, while 20 road authorities fully utilised their budgets, reflecting strong alignment between planning and project execution.
“About 13 road authorities are in the region of 80 to 90 percent budget utilisation rate. A random pick of the road authorities that excelled in budget utilisation showed road authorities such as Gwanda Municipality, Gokwe Town Council, Kwekwe Municipality, Mutoko Rural District Council, Tsholotsho Rural District Council, Buhera Rural District Council, Murehwa District Council and Sanyati Rural District Council among others have reached complete budget absorption showing disciplined financial management.
“This collective performance highlights exceptional project management, efficient execution, and a high level of accountability, setting a strong benchmark for other authorities,” said the agency.
However, Zinara acknowledged that some road authorities recorded low utilisation rates due to challenges such as slow procurement processes, shortages of qualified engineers and frequent equipment breakdowns.
“Going into 2026, Zinara is going to closely work with these authorities to address these issues through technical training, support in contract management, and capacity-building initiatives.
“Zinara will also assist road authorities to procure equipment using their disbursements for them to accelerate road works using their fuel disbursements. This collaborative approach will strengthen the ability of these Road Authorities,” said the agency.
Zinara said the final quarter of the year and the period beyond will be characterised by a more rigorous performance-tracking framework, particularly targeting authorities with lower utilisation rates, while providing targeted technical and administrative support to overcome operational bottlenecks.
