Zimpapers Logo

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge Rural District Council (BBRDC) has started rehabilitating roads and key infrastructure damaged by torrential rains and wear and tear, an official has said.

BBRDC chief executive, Mr Peter Moyo, said in an interview last Friday that workers were already on the ground.

He said they were also creating new links on both primary and secondary roads to improve the district’s road network.

“We have started repairing damaged roads and in some areas we are creating new links to improve issues of service delivery,” said Mr Moyo.

“So far, our team is working on a new road that links Mpande area and Zezani in Beitbridge West.

“In addition, we are looking at urgently repairing the road which links Shashe and Sentinel areas.

“You will also note that in our 2019 budget, we committed RTGS$450 000 on improving or roads network.

“However, our budget is yet to be approved, but we are confident it will sail through and we will be able to attend to the badly damaged roads infrastructure”.

Some of the roads which would need rehabilitation are those linking the town with Zezani, Hwunga, Dumba, Chiredzi, Tshikwalakwala, Makombe, Fula, Masera, Shashe and Nhwali.

Beitbridge West parliamentarian Cde Ruth Maboyi recently made a clarion call for development agencies to partner with Government in attending to the poor road network.

She said the bad state of the roads had triggered transport problems for most villagers in the most parts of the district where public transporters have pulled off.

Cde Maboyi said private motorists have taken advantage of the situation to charge exorbitant fares, which were beyond the reach of many.

“We have had several meetings with the communities and it is apparent that the poor state of the roads has resulted in transport shortages.

“Some public transporters are pulling off the routes and the few remaining are charging exorbitant prices.

“It is important for Government through the local authority and development agencies attend to the road infrastructure in this area,” said Cde Maboyi.

She urged Government to consider introducing ZUPCO buses to the rural Beitbridge to abet transport woes.

In Beitbridge East the situation at Tshikwalakwala area is regarded as critical after a bridge linking Beitbridge and Chiredzi was washed away by floods in January 2013.

The road also serves as a link for tourists accessing the Greater Limpopo Trans-frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) and horticulture farmers in Beitbridge East constituency for transporting their products to markets in the border town.

The TFCA is made up of components from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique.