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Mr Moyo

Victor Maphosa Herald Reporter
GOVERNMENT has so far disbursed $43 million to various local authorities through the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme for both maintenance and rehabilitation of roads that fall under their jurisdictions. Harare and Bulawayo City Councils received $17,8 million and $6,1 million respectively. Director of roads in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Engineer Eric Gumbie said the funds, which were raised through the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (zinara), are meant to make local roads usable.

“As a ministry, we are busy making our roads usable and as we approach the rainy season, we promise the public that all roads would be in good state and there is nothing to be afraid of,” said Engineer Gumbie.

“Harare was given $17,8 million and City of Bulawayo received $6,1 million, while all other local authorities shared $19,8 million,” he said. Eng Gumbie said part of the money will be used for clearing the drainage system, which if it remains unattended, will likely lead to problems during the rainy season. Experts say the water that accumulates due to clogged drains often undermine the quality of roads over time. zinara spokesperson Mr Augustine Moyo said there are various road works around the country that are being repaired under the scope of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme.

The incessant rains experienced during the 2016-2017 rainy season worsened the condition of most roads around the country. Government responded through an emergency programme to repair the road network, which is also crucial for economic activities. Last year, zinara’s $50 million bond, which was floated by the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ), was oversubscribed by more than 17 percent. In September, zinara, through ZB Bank, floated another $60 million bond.

ZB Financial Holdings chief executive Mr Ron Mutandagayi indicated then that the bank will consider raising a further $40 million subject to the success of the $60 million bond. A recent national comprehensive survey, the Visual Road Condition and Inventory Survey, noted that the country needs more than $5,5 billion to periodically maintain and rehabilitate the country’s roads and bring them to trafficable state. The study shows that 30 percent of the local road network is currently “in poor to very poor condition”.

However, of the country’s 98 000-kilometre road network — an increase of 10 000 km over the past 18 years — 40 percent (39 000km) is in fair condition, while 17 percent (16 000km) was good and 8 percent (7 913km) was very good. Also, of the total network, 89 percent (78 200 kilometres) is made up of unsurfaced roads, while gravel and earth roads make up 47 479 kilometres and 27 532 kilometres, respectively.  The sealed road network — mainly in urban areas — and the main highways constitute 18 percent or 17 846 kilometres. The Visual Road Condition and Inventory Survey was bankrolled to the tune of $1,7 million by zinara and was carried in 2016/2017 by the country’s road authorities, including the Zimbabwe Local Government Association (zilga).