Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
GWERU City Council (GCC) has embarked on a road rehabilitation programme after using more than $11million received from the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara).
In an interview yesterday, GCC spokesperson Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee said council has started rehabilitating roads in the suburbs and the central business district using Zinara funds.
The roads, she said, were damaged by rains during the past rainy season.
“We were allocated $11million for phase 1 and $510 000 for phase 2 that includes reconstruction, resealing and overlay,” she said.
Ms Chingwaramusee said under phase one, council has managed to complete the resealing of Mora and Swazi roads in Mkoba 17 and 12 respectively.
The resealing of the roads brings relief to motorists and transport operators as the roads had developed potholes which were blamed for a lot of vehicle breakdowns.
Some transport operators were shunning using the two roads much to the disadvantage of the travelling residents.
Said Ms Chingwaramusee, “So far for phase 1 we have received $11 519 728 inclusive of the funding for Mora and Swazi roads. The total contract sum for Swazi and Mora roads is $11 991 928.50.”
She said the council was also busy going around wards putting gravel on roads so that motorists have no potholes problem.
“We are only putting gravel and patching roads in residential areas as you know that main roads are now a state of national disaster and Central Government is looking at those so we are focusing on residential areas,” said Ms Chingwaramusee.
She said the rehabilitation of roads has also benefitted residents after the council engaged 50 contract workers.
Ms Chingwaramusee said they were waiting for funding from the Government under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme to accelerate the road rehabilitation exercise before the coming of the rainy season.
Speaking in Gweru last week, Zanu PF Vice-President and Second Secretary, Cde Kembo Mohadi said he was happy to note that the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme was going on well in the province in both rural and urban areas.
“President Mnangagwa declared a state of national disaster, the roads, and in the Midlands Province roads and bridges are being rehabilitated. Even in urban areas like in the city of Gweru, the roads which were damaged following years of failure to rehabilitate them by the council have been rehabilitated.
“The devolution funds are also being disbursed and there are projects that are being worked on across the province,” said Cde Mohadi.
Online Reporter