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Manicaland Correspondent

Marange-Zimunya constituency is set to benefit from the $300 000 in funding from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) for the rehabilitation of 8,5km of service roads in the Marange business area.

The Marange rural service centre road project started in August this year and is expected to end before the onset of the rains.

In an interview with The Herald, Mutare district engineer, Mr Drought Musungo said the Marange rural service centre was the main business centre in the Marange area and the second largest service centre in the district.

“It is Government’s policy to provide easy accessibility to both business community as well as residents. Marange RSC being the second largest service centre in the district aims at attracting investment in the Marange community at large,” he said.

“It is against this background that council through funding from Zinara intends to surface 1,2km of road servicing the industrial/business stands as well as gravel 7,3km of mainly stand service roads.”

Mr Musungo said the service centre had a total of 142 residential stands and 60 business or commercial and institutional stands, with a planned expansion of 150 residential stands as well as 70 business commercial stands that had approved layout plans.

“The $295 815 worth project was funded by Zinara with council’s technical services department being responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the work,” he said.

“It involves the rehabilitation of an 8,5km of service roads of which 1,2km will be surfaced while 7,5km will be gravelled. However, construction of relief culverts as well as lined drains will also be done.

“The project is under the 2018 budget and we hope to complete it before the rains. Currently, the sub-grade preparations up to base one have been completed on 1,2km while formation and gravelling is in progress on the 7,3 km.”

The project is expected to attract investment, improve access, curb rural-urban migration as all services will be found at the rural service centre.

Eng Musungo said that there had been a few challenges in completing the project including suppliers who were reluctant to supply material due to delays in the in the release of funds from Zinara.

“Another challenge was the issue of contractors who were finding it difficult to finance activities due to late payment of claims by Zinara,” he said.

“However, we proposed that contractors be paid in advance for mobilisation to enable finance for immediate running costs like fuel and general equipment maintenance.”