Farmers decry poor roads

THE poor road network in Makonde continues to affect farmers in the district who pay exorbitant transport charges to ferry their produce to Chinhoyi and Mhangura.

According to the farmers, transporters take advantage of the inaccessible roads to charge exorbitant fares.

“The road is so bad that transporters who ferry our maize and soyabeans to Grain Marketing Board in Chinhoyi have since hiked the fares to $1.50 a bag when in other areas its $1,” said Joshua Chimhofu from Nyakasikana in Makonde’s Ward 6.

He said most farmers failed to realise meaningful returns from their agricultural activities.

Zanu-PF district chairman for Gudubu, Cde Wellington Makwiramiti, said bridges and roads in the district were built over 20 years ago.

“They were built in the 1990s and have outlived their lifespan. More so, the bridges were designed in such a way that they do not allow water to pass under them. During the rainy season, travelling becomes difficult,” he said.

Makonde legislator Cde Kindness Paradza said the poor roads had affected distribution of inputs in his area.

He blamed the Makonde Rural District Council for failing to use funds availed to it by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration.

Officials from the Makonde RDC indicated that they had begun rehabilitating the road network with the project starting Ward 6.

All wards, according to the officials, would benefit from the project.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo recently named the Makonde RDC as the worst performers in Mashonaland West province.