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Freedom Mupanedemo

Midlands Bureau

The District Development Fund (DDF) has embarked on a major road and borehole rehabilitation project in the Midlands Province targeting the resurfacing of over 800km of roads linking districts across the province and the rehabilitation of 1 000 boreholes in different areas.

Speaking during a roads rehabilitation programme launch in Silobela recently, DDF provincial coordinator Engineer Joseph Nhliziyana said the department was racing to complete resurfacing the roads before the rainy season.

The rehabilitating of over 1 000 boreholes across the province, he said, is aimed at improving the water supply in different parts of the province.

“We are racing against time and we have launched a massive roads rehabilitation programme in the province before the rains. We have a total of 4 077km of road network in the province but we are targeting to do the resurfacing on 800km before the rainy season. We will be concentrating on main roads providing inter district linkages before we embark on resurfacing other feeder roads,” said Eng Nhliziyana.

The DDF identified major link roads in all the districts including areas where there is need to construct bridges.

“Here in Silobela we are resurfacing the Zhombe-Lahleka road, which is the longest as it stretches about 60 km. In Gokwe North, we are resurfacing the 31 km Tsungai-Musadzi road while in Gweru we are working on resurfacing the 47km Gweru-Dimbamiwa road. We are also working on Chaka-Charandura road, which is 26km in Mvuma,” he said.

The DDF was also constructing bridges and repairing some which were destroyed by Cyclone Idai.

“One of the bridges we have since completed in Chaka area Chirumanzu was officially commissioned by Vice President Kembo Mohadi. We are also constructing Sabala Bridge in Gokwe North, which provides the major link between Gokwe North and South.” he said.

There is also Jeka and Phoenix bridges both in Mberengwa which are being repaired after they were washed away,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eng Nhliziyana said the province has a total of 5275 boreholes of which 1319 were not working.