Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
MUTARE City Council is facing a major infrastructure crisis as its roads are in a deplorable state, littered with potholes and poor drainage systems which are making it a nightmare for motorists and the travelling public in the city as trafficability is now nearly impossible in some sections.
The current rains have exposed the city’s poor drainage system, resulting in water flowing on roads, washing away earth and gravel roads, and causing potholes on tarred roads.
The poor drainage system is also causing flash flooding, and some unfortunate residents had water flooding their homes.
Mutare road network is 507km, of which 293km is tarred, with gravel and earth roads constituting 214km. About 30km are being worked on by private developers, and at various stages of completion.
The city’s roads are deteriorating every year, while little resources are being channelled towards rehabilitation and maintenance.
The local authority this week held a roads indaba with residents which centred on soliciting ideas and strategies that can be employed to improve the situation.
Mutare Town Clerk, Mr Blessing Chafesuka revealed that 350km of the road network (69 percent) of the total network require reconstruction and rehabilitation.
He said only 157km (31 percent) is in a fair to very good state, and still serviceable.
Mutare City, he said, requires a staggering US$108m to rehabilitate its entire road network, against the US$1,2 million raised last year from ZINARA, Special Road Rates and Parking fees.
“Our roads require funding, current funding is too low to match the required repairs. Without adequate funding, let us not except major changes, and in fact, we should brace for the worst.
“The roads in the city are in a state of disrepair. With issues such as clogged drainages, potholes, incomplete housing servicing projects, and lack of roads in some areas, we should not expect much.
“Recent storms were aggressive in Mutare, ripping off billboards, causing more damage. Council does not operate in isolation. We need all the stakeholders. Roads in serviceable state is 157km (31 percent), and the road network that requires total rehabilitation, reconstruction and upgrading constitute 350km. An investment of US$108m is required to rehabilitate our road network.
“In 2024, US$1 226 924, 53 was raised from ZINARA, special roads rates and parking fees. Depending on the state of the roads, this amount at best can do 0.9km. This is the best we can do per year when annually 25km of road deteriorate to very poor state, requiring reconstruction. Whenever we managed to do up to 5km, we had to compromise other services, giving priority to roads, but we cannot correct an anomaly by creating another.
“An ideal 10-year periodic maintenance cycle requires funding of US$11million per annum when considering the current state of our road network. This 10-year plan was not accepted by residents, although it is exactly what would have been ideal.
“The projected revenues from the approved 2025 budget will only allow about 7,4km of road periodic maintenance works for the current budget year. Although it is not enough, it will at least give us significant funding to improve the current state,” said Mr Chafesuka.
United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT) director, Mr Edison Dube said council has started on a positive note by engaging stakeholders affected by the poor state of the roads.
He said council must approach Government for increased funding from ZINARA.
Mr Dube also called upon residents to timeously pay their bills so that council has enough resources to attend to the roads.
“Dialogue is the first step to finding solutions to this very sorry state that we find our city in in-terms of road maintenance and the status of the roads. The engagement between council and residents is a step in the right direction, and we should also engage Government at ZINARA level and negotiate for more resources to be allocated to the city for the maintenance of the roads.
“One reality we have to face is that the volume of the vehicles has increased and the roads are continuing to age. We really need more resources on these roads. The business community must come on board by paying their rates, and also try to offer assistance through advance payments for road levies so that council come up with realistic amount to start work, particularly in the Central Business District and industrial areas. Residents must also come on board and honour their rates to the local authority.
“The information which we picked from this indaba is that the city council has no resources, and at the same time also needs better supervision in the engineering department. The work ethic for the teams working on our roads is not acceptable. Council must deploy personnel that work overnight and weekends, and the standard of work must be of high quality,” said Mr Dube.
Mr David Mutambirwa, the programmes director for Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Association, said the state of the roads in Mutare gives a bad picture to tourists, given the city’s status as a gateway to the sea.
He said residents are incurring huge losses, repairing damaged cars, and taking a lot of time to navigate through damaged roads.
“The state of the roads in Mutare is deplorable. They are no longer navigable anymore. This has been worsened by the excessive rains being received during this rainy season. The state of the roads is, not only affecting motorists, but people going to work and learners going to school are being delayed as well.
“For one to drive from Hobhouse to town, it used to be about 10 minutes, but it now takes up to 30 minutes. People are, not only incurring costs of repairing damaged vehicles, but are also being robbed of their time. The ZINARA disbursement is a drop in the ocean to address the challenge.
“We need to come up with concerted efforts involving all stakeholders, and harness resources for the rehabilitation of our roads. Mutare is the gateway to the sea and a tourist destination, and given this status, the city must be given priority in terms of funds disbursements,” said Mr Mutambirwa.
