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Midlands Bureau
Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube last Friday officially launched Kwekwe City’s road rehabilitation programme which will see some of the city’s major roads being temporarily closed. The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) availed $2,3 million to kick start the programme with the local authority raising a significant sum of money to bankroll the exercise.

Speaking during the launch, at Mbizo 4 Shopping Centre, Cde Ncube said Kwekwe was the only local authority to have embarked on a road rehabilitation programme in the Midlands Province, a development which he said had resulted in some roads becoming death traps.

“I am aware that Kwekwe City Council has been moving at a snail’s pace in terms of road rehabilitation owing to some challenges to do with funds. But following my intervention, I am confident that they will improve so that Kwekwe City is at the same level of road rehabilitation with other local authorities. Some of the roads in Kwekwe were now in a very bad state,” said Minister Ncube.

He said good road network was important in attracting investors into a city.
Speaking at the launch, Kwekwe Mayor Matenda Madzoke said they were targeting to resurface 63km in the first phase.
“We are targeting 63km of road network citywide which we are going to reseal.

“We are starting with the City–Mbizo-highway and soon we will be doing the City-Amaveni Road,” he said.
He said the local authority would give priority to major roads that link the city with the suburbs.

“We have decided to give priority to our main roads which are frequently used by public transport. All in all, we will resurface 34 roads city wide,” he said.

Clr Madzoke said apart from the road rehabilitation programme, the local authority was also clearing drains as well as cleaning up the city.

“We will also be clearing our water drainage system to ensure smooth flow of water and avoid floods in the city during rainy season,” he said.