The ManicaPost
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND needs about $2.5 billion to rehabilitate more than 200 roads across the province after they were destroyed by heavy rains this season, The Manica Post has established.
The persistent rains left numerous roads in bad shape, while some bridges were washed away, thereby prompting Government, through the District Development Fund (DDF), to embark on an emergency road repair programme across the country.
Some of the affected roads link communities to important facilities such as clinics, schools and business centres, and are already being repaired under the programme, utilising the $40 million recently released by the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority.
DDF provincial manager, Mr Robert Chawatama, said an assessment of the road network in the province showed that 207 roads measuring 3 563km were damaged and need fixing.
Works include spot gravelling, clearing of drains, reshaping of damaged road sections as well as clearing and repairing blocked and damaged culverts.
“We have major roads and bridges that were affected and works that will be done vary from emergency repairs to full construction and rehabilitation as well as bridge construction. However, due to the high number of roads in need of repair across the province, prioritisation will be done through the Provincial Development Coordinator’s Office,” he said.
Among the major roads and bridges to be repaired is Chadzire Bridge along the Nyashanu-Betera Road in Buhera and the Nyadi and Nyazvidzi Parallel roads.
Buhera has a total of 16 roads that need repairs, measuring 545km; while Makoni District has the highest number of damaged roads (62), measuring 828km. Chipinge has 23 roads measuring 549km.
Chimanimani has a total of 25 roads (421km) in need of repair, while Mutare, Mutasa and Nyanga have 29 (649km), 24 (398km) and 28 roads (571km) respectively.
Mr Chawatama said among the roads, there are major bridges that also need attention.
“In Makoni, the Mwaradzi Bridge along the Gowakowa-Village 50 West Road needs attention. Then there is the Chadzire Bridge along Nyashanu-Betera Road in Buhera. We will also repair the Nyamatubu Bridge along Bende-Avilla Road in Nyanga and the Mhakwe Bridge along the Muuyuweburi-Muroti Road in Chimanimani.
“We also have the Masanga Bridge along Samhuta-Ngaone Road in Chipinge. We want to make sure that people can access clinics, schools and markets,” he said.
Mr Chawatama said the road repair programme is important in improving trafficability in affected areas.
He said a contractor, Field of Hope, has been mobilised to start work on the Nyazvidzi Parallel road in Buhera District, a stretch of about 96km.
Manicaland has a total rural road network of 4 205km, of which 95 percent is in a deplorable state due to the incessant rains.
Villagers welcomed the initiative to repair the roads, highlighting that it will bring relief to communities in affected areas.
“Our roads have been in bad shape for many years and this has been compounded by the heavy rains. This makes transport very expensive because those with vehicles are now charging exorbitant fees to ferry us to Murambinda and other areas,” said Mrs Constance Dzumani of Ruwinga Village in Buhera.
Buhera District Development Coordinator, Mr Freeman Mavhiza, said the repair and rehabilitation of roads is a key enabler to development.
“We are concerned with the general state of roads because a good road network is a key enabler to economic development. Many bridges have been affected by the incessant rains and this presents some challenges in the movement of traffic. This has resulted in the increase of transport costs. Very few people can still afford to travel, even to health care facilities,” he said.
He appealed to Government to fast-track the upgrading of the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Road as it will unlock a lot of benefits for the district.
“Travelling to the south eastern areas like Chipinge and Chiredzi will become easier. The expensive products in Murambinda will become cheaper as transport costs will have been reduced,” he said.
