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Clr Chikozho

Grace Nyoni Midlands Reporter
CITY of Gweru has started installing solar-powered traffic lights to replace old electricity traffic lights in the central business district. Mayor, Councillor Charles Chikozho, said they awarded a tender to Drewland Mine Company to replace all the traffic lights both working and not in the CBD, with solar-powered ones.

Although he could not be brought to state the actual cost of the tender as he was out of office, Clr Chikozho said the move was necessitated by the need to cut electricity costs incurred by the local authority, as well as replacing old and malfunctioning traffic lights.

“We have started to replace all electric traffic lights within the central business district with solar-powered ones. About five intersections will have the electrical traffic lights replaced with solar-powered ones. Drewland Mine Company won the tender,” said Clr Chikozho.

He said most of the traffic lights in the town were malfunctioning and there was need to replace them.

“The local authority decided on putting solar powered traffic lights because they are affordable as well as efficient as compared to the electrical ones which were previously installed. Most of the traffic lights were not working and needed to be replaced, but we decided to put solar-powered lights which are efficient as well as affordable,” said Clr Chikozho.

The positive development comes following complaints by road users over malfunctioning traffic lights, which at times, resulted in accidents.