The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
POOR workmanship by a company contracted to rehabilitate some of Chipinge town’s roads under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP 2) has irked the local authority and residents.
They are expressing serious reservations about the company’s capacity to do the job.
Bitumen Resources, one of the companies awarded a contract to repair the road network in the farming town, has drawn the ire of people in Chipinge who are questioning its capability to do, and complete the job to satisfaction.
The value of the project is around $5 million.
Following an engagement meeting recently, council gave the company a seven-day ultimatum to wind up the project, but it failed to meet the deadline.
This prompted the local authority to effect a two percent penalty on the company for carrying out work at a snail’s pace.
As stipulated in the contract agreement, the work was scheduled to be completed by August 3, and after failing to do the job in time, the contractor requested for an extension by three weeks to August 28.
Despite the extension being granted, Bitumen Resources still could not complete the project.
The council convened an engagement meeting with other stakeholders recently to discuss the situation, and solicit their views.
During the meeting, residents expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the company’s workmanship.
They called for the termination of the contract.
The residents also had qualms about the choice of the person the company had sent to meet them, one Mr Kamanga, a local roads engineer they claimed was hired on that day.
Despite being awarded the tender, Bitumen Resources has no proper equipment, the requisite protective clothing and uniforms, the residents further charged.
Mr Ashirai Mawere, who was representing the residents, had no kind words for the company.
“Surely, the company has shown no seriousness of fulfilling their end of the bargain in the contract. President Mnangagwa has declared a state of disaster of our roads, and availed funds for all the projects to repair them, yet some people given the job to do it are sleeping on duty.
“The company short-changed council by taking up a job they have no capacity of doing. How did this company without equipment, protective clothes and uniforms for its employees get this job?” queried Mr Mawere.
He added: “They have shown their true colours in this meeting by sending a representative who is not involved in their decision-making. They are taking the local authority for a ride, and we as residents will not accept it.”
The Bitumen Resources representative, one Engineer Kamanga, said following their engagement with council and residents last week the company had upped its game.
He said the company was working hard to make the roads trafficable.
“Following that outcry from locals, the company has covered considerable ground. Yes, we are facing some challenges, but we have finished earthworks. More equipment is coming, and we are in constant touch with our superiors in Harare for direction,” said Engineer Kamanga.
Assistant District Development Coordinator, Mr Tedious Beto, expressed displeasure over the quality of work being carried out on Chipinge town’s roads compared to other local authorities.
