Natalie Nyathi,
Business Reporter
Five key roads that are part of some of Bulawayo’s important through fares such as Luveve road, Matopos road, Wellington road, Khami road and Sterlworks road have been identified as some of the beneficiaries in the ongoing $93 billion central government sponsored rehabilitation programme.
The funds for the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) for the first quarter of the year, according to the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) are readily available to access for local government authorities.
“It is important to note that funds availed by Zinara are for road rehabilitation and maintenance not the construction of roads”, said Zinara spokesperson Tendai Mugabe in a statement.
“As ZINARA, we have availed $93 billion for road rehabilitation and maintenance and the funds are readily available for local authorities to access. What we do as Zinara is to collect revenue and disburse funds to local authorities”.
According to information gathered by Zim GBC News, BCC intends to do overlays along Khami Road from the Flyover to Mpopoma Avenue as well as Matopos Road from 23rd Avenue to Leander Road.
The Bulawayo City Council also said it will make overlays on Luveve Road in which there is a bad stretch near Engen Service Station in Matshobana as well as Steelworks Road from Basch Street to Mpopoma and also patch potholes, and improve drainage and road signage.
Bulawayo’s roads are currently characterised by potholes and the situation has been made worse due to the onset of the rainy season.
The Bulawayo City Council is on record saying 70 percent of its road network has outlived its lifespan. The authority says that it requires about US$700 million to fix the roads.
In Matabeleland North, roads that need urgent attention include, the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road, Bulawayo-Nkayi and Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highways, while in Matabeleland South it is Bulawayo-Kezi-Maphisa road that needs attention.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring Rural district council run road network Dr Patson Mlilo the chief executive officer, revealed that nearly 200km of the road network needs to be rehabilitated and maintained.
“The roads that need rehabilitation are Enaleni, Waterfalls, Fries and Majiji Kokolombeni.
“There’s a need for bush clearing, spot gravelling formation and fixing of drains. In terms of maintenance, roads such as Mbembesi, Litshe, Mary Ellen and Old Hunter are our priority,” said Dr Mlilo.
He added that these roads are important to the economy of the district and surrounding provinces.
Zim GBC News established that last year Bubi-Mguza district received $43 million for road maintenance and rehabilitation and is anticipating $100 million this year.