Govt avails $60m for provincial roads upgrade
GOVERNMENT has availed $59 million to Masvingo province to upgrade its road network, where 86 percent of roads are not surfaced, an official has said.
It is also understood that 32 percent of the city’s roads are in a bad state.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Joel Biggie Matiza said Masvingo’s road network was in a bad state and Government had embarked on a deliberate programme to address the situation.
“Masvingo has been allocated $59 130 000 for the implementation of road development programme in the 2019 financial year,” said Minister Matiza.
“The money is available for the identified projects although previously we have heard issues relating to the late disbursement of funds to road authorities by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara).
“The money is now available, we have attended to those challenges. At the same time we urge local authorities to assist by acquitting the funds so that they may be allocated more resources for other projects.
“However, tendering processes have proved to be a challenge, but I promise that the ministry will make a follow up on that, as all the money budgeted for road project is available. Zinara had its own challenges, hence the coming in of a new board chaired by Engineer Michael Madanha.”
Minister Matiza said it was important for all road authorities to be fully-equipped and to hire experts to implement the projects.
According to the minister, such a move will minimise cases of poor workmanship.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira said sound infrastructure like roads and airports would attract the much-needed investments in the context of devolution.
He said Masvingo was worried by the delay in the dualisation of Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway.
“Trending development approaches these days encourage putting up of sound infrastructure which will inevitably attract visits, stimulate trade and investment both domestic and international,” said Minister Chadzamira.
“Out of about 12 000km of road network, 32 percent is in bad state.
“Our economic zones and industrial parks should be supported by an enabling modern transport infrastructure, in the context of devolution.”
Provincial road engineer Peter Mukome said the province had a total of 9 849km road network of which only 1 576km (12,7 percent) was tarred.