Manyame gets $514 000 for roads

ZIMBABWE National Roads Administration (Zinara) recently disbursed $514 000 to Manyame Rural District Council for road maintenance under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme.

Zinara allocated $359 665 for periodic maintenance, while $154 142 is earmarked for routine maintenance.

Manyame RDC engineer Benjamin Bara said the local authority has lined up projects through which the money will be used.

“Funds allocated under periodic maintenance programme covers Guzha Business Centre roads surfacing, Besa Road rehabilitation, Dema township and Rocklands roads reconstruction projects,” he said.

“Under the routine maintenance programme, we have activities that include grading, bush clearing, drain shaping, pothole filling and spot gravelling. We have already covered 207 kilometres of our road network against a target of 540 kilometres.”

The local authority also received $24 067 as part of its annual allocation of $513 808.

“So far, we only have received about $24 000 as part of our annual allocation and Zinara expects us to kick-start implementing council’s routine maintenance activities such as grading; then afterwards, more funds will come,” he said.

Eng Bara said they have graded 183 km so far, while pothole filling and bush clearing had covered 19km and 5km, respectively. Work was however, delayed by heavy rains. “We should have done more of grading by now as per our programme but between February and March we were disturbed by perpetual rains,” said Eng Bara.

He also said the recent funding came at an opportune time when they were planning to carry out emergency interventions.

“As council, we appreciate the efforts being put by Zinara in making sure council is funded on its road maintenance programme,” he said.

Eng Bara however pleaded with Zinara for additional resources.

“We appeal to Zinara that the amount that they disburse at the beginning of each year for routine maintenance be increased, as it allows council to make timely huge strides in terms of making budgetary commitments,” he said.

Meanwhile, the local authority will rope in a contractor for periodic maintenance.

A tender has already been flighted and the adjudication process is expected soon.