The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has set the ball rolling in repairing the roads in Manicaland with three major roads in each town having already been identified as a starting point under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP).
Local authorities’ poor service delivery as well as the incessant rains that recently pounded the country worsened the damage on the roads, thereby leading to the Government’s declaration of a State of Disaster to enable resource mobilisation.
Treasury has already availed $480 million towards road rehabilitation across the country.
The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) have also moved in to support Government’s efforts after the Marange mining concern started the rehabilitation of the 63km stretch from Bambazonke to Chiadzwa.
Manicaland Provincial Road Engineer, Atherton Zindoga, confirmed that under the ERRP, nine roads have already been identified for rehabilititation in Mutare, Chipinge and Rusape.
Eng Zindoga, who is the deputy chairperson of the provincial committee assembled for the ERRP, said work has already commenced with repairs on the bridge that was recently swept away by heavy rains along the Headlands-Chendambuya Road, where culverts are being constructed.
“We are moving ahead with road repairs under the ERRP and we are already on the ground along the Headlands-Chendambuya road, where culverts are being constructed.
“We are working on three major roads in each of the three urban settlements in Manicaland, that is Mutare, Chipinge and Rusape. This is the starting point of an extensive programme that will cover the length and breadth of the entire province,” said Eng Zindoga.
He said resource mobilisation is ongoing, while actual repairs are expected to commence in all the identified areas soon.
“Resource mobilisation is ongoing, while the actual road repairs are expected to commence in all the identified areas soon,” he said.
In Chimanimani, the tarring of the 22km stretch from Jopa turn off to Rusitu is now expected to resume after being stalled by incessant rains received in the area.
“There has been great progress, but a lot still needs to be done. We have tarred 16km out of the 22km using our own resources. There has been excellent progress with very good workmanship on the part of the contractor, Bitumen World. They had stopped major works because of the weather and were concentrating on building culverts, but they have now commenced.
Chimanimani East legislator, Honourable Joshua Sacco applauded Government for the job well done.
“President Mnangagwa’s administration is serious about infrastructure development. This has resulted in the opening up of the Rusitu Valley for human traffic. This has also created access to national markets.
“People’s excitement is evident as this area had been underdeveloped for so long. I appeal to Government to avail further funding for the repair of roads which were damaged by tropical storms Chalane and Eloise in December and January. These include the Chimanimani to Cashel road via Chikukwa, Kopa to Vimba, Chisengu to Muchadziya/Derera as well as the Merrywaters to Silverstreams roads,” said Hon Sacco.
ZCDC head of corporate affairs and community development, Mr Sugar Chagonda, said the coorporates are also playing their part in infastructural development.
“ZCDC is always trying to find ways of supporting Government’s vision in development and responding to the developmental needs of the community we operate in.
“It is against this background that we have started the rehabilitation of the 63km stretch of the Bambazonke to Chiadzwa road.
“This is one of the major projects that we started as part of our corporate social responsibility programme. The community has been complaining of the poor state of that road as this has seen some public transporters withdrawing their service. The few remaining ones operating are charging exorbitant fares, hence our decision to come to the rescue of the community.
“As part of the project, we have also partnered with the local authority to supply them with fuel for use in repairing feeder roads into the Bambazonke to Chiadzwa road,” said Mr Chagonda.
