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Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Government has made significant progress in the rehabilitation of a number of roads in different parts of Harare, thanks to deliberate efforts to ensure the roads are trafficable.

The development came as a result of about $5,1 million that has been disbursed by Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme.

The total funding for the fund for 2018 fiscal year is $12,9 million.

Updating the Environmental Management Committee recently, Harare City Council works director Engineer Zvenyika Chawatama said they had managed to cover a lot of ground through the funds.

“Under roads routine maintenance $604 249 was used to pay for Bitumen products, plant repairs and labour, while $4 560 128 was used for the periodic maintenance, with both amounting to $5 166 377,” he said.

Eng Chawatama said more work was expected to be covered as council has paid 60 percent of the contractors.

“About 60 percent of the contractors had been paid, a move which would enable them to get back and work on the roads,” he said. “Plans were underway to pay the remaining contractors.”

The committee expressed the need for council to put sign posts showing the companies repairing the roads.

Government approved a $175 million road rehabilitation project under the Public Sector Investment Programme and the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme meant to be used across the country. Of the $175 million, Government will work on five bridges — Bubi Bridge in Matabeleland South on Lutumba-Chikwalakwala Road, Chilonga Bridge on Chiredzi-Sango Road, Kawonga River Bridge, Nyamangura River Bridge and Jeka River Bridge in Mberengwa.

The money will also be used in the dualisation of the Harare-Bulawayo Highway up to Norton tollgate and the dualisation of Harare-Mutare Highway up to Melfort.

Dualisation of the Harare to Melfort stretch on the Harare-Mutare Highway has already begun and the same applies for Harare-Norton tollgate stretch.

Increased funding for massive roads rehabilitation projects being implemented countrywide by Government has seen at least 4 000 skilled and semi-skilled jobs having been created so far, while 267 local companies have been engaged to supply materials.