The ManicaPost
Post Reporters
THE second phase of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP), which was recently launched by President Mnangagwa, is in full swing in Manicaland with a number of projects at various stages of completion.
As of June 11, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) had released $173 million to Manicaland. Under the timelines set for this year, 840km will be rehabilitated across the country, while 8 340km will be re-gravelled.
A total of 17 093km will be regraded, while 1 290km of roads will be resealed.
On drainage structures, 427 will be reconstructed.
Speaking during this week’s post-Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said there were notable achievements in the province’s programme.
“Regarding the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP 2), Government wishes to advise that implementation of the programme is work in progress, with some notable achievements having been recorded,” said Sen Mutsvangwa.
In Manicaland, priority has been given to the Mwarazi Shelvet along Headlands-Chiendambuya Road which was washed away by a flooded river in February, leaving a huge sink-hole into which two vehicles and a motorcycle plunged.
The damage made Headlands and Makoni North inaccessible.
The surfacing of 15,5 km of the Kopa-Jopa Road has also been completed while surfacing of the remaining 10km on the Marange-Zvipiripiri Road is expected to be completed by June 30.
Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer Atherton Zindoga said the rehabilitation of the Mwarazi Shelvet, which is valued at US$125 000, was awarded to Evergreen Contractors.
Eng Zindoga said the project will be completed before August.
“The Mwarazi Shelvet is the first project we are doing under ERRP2. It needs to be swiftly repaired to enable the movement of goods and people.
“We are engaging contractors for the other projects. The outstanding Cyclone Idai projects, including the Skyline-Wengezi stretch and the Odzi-Marange-St Noah Road (17km), are also being rehabilitated under ERRP2. This will also include the re-graveling of the 39km stretch along the Odzi-Marange Road,” said Eng Zindoga.
He said in Mutare, Magamba Road (7km), Hobhouse Road (6km), the link road to Dangamvura (8km) as well as the 2km stretch from the flyover will be rehabilitated under ERRP2.
In Mutare Rural District, $8.3m has so far been received from Zinara for its various projects.
“The first allocation of $4.1m was meant for the completion of the 2020 projects, while $4.2m was released for the new projects.
‘‘Most roads under our jurisdiction need attention,” said Mutare Rural District Council Engineer Drought Musungo.
“We do not have adequate equipment to carry out most of the work and that is why we hire service providers through tenders which have since been flighted.
“Some of the projects we are working on include the Manzununu (18km), 12 Miles, Mt Dangare and Burma Valley (12km), Zimunya Township (5km), Killridge in Dora Dombo (12km), Masase-Daure (10km), Matanda-Chikwariro (15km), Matura in Burma Valley (10km), Cascade in Burma Valley (8km), Blue Mountain in Vumba (6km), Wayside One and Two (2km), Shambanyara (5km), Tom Valley (5.6km), Die Gun (12km) and Mt Shalom (9km). “We hope to finish all the work before the onset of the rainy season,” said Eng Musungo.
Makoni Rural District Council has since received $4 million to rehabilitate its roads.
Most roads in the district are in a bad shape, resulting in transporters hiking fares which are charged in USD in most cases.
Rusape Town Council received $24m from Zinara.
It has since utilised $16m in rehabilitating a road network of 137km which was extensively damaged by the heavy rains.
Rusape has 105km of dusty, 15km of tarred and 17km of gravel roads.
Acting Rusape Town Council secretary, Engineer Charles Chindenga said the completion of the road maintenance programme is targeted for September.
“Our council was allocated $24m by Zinara and we have so far utilised $16m. Government’s intervention is most welcome as our own resources are rather thin.
“We are doing pothole patching, resealing, grading and gravelling of the roads and we therefore purchased the required materials. The work is progressing smoothly and there are noticeable changes.
“Sixty casual workers have been engaged for two months to complement our existing staff. We have not outsourced services as we are using our local resources and labour.
“The Department of Roads has also come on board to rehabilitate the major roads in Vengere and Magamba.
“As a council we had only managed to rehabilitate the 55km Silverbow and Magamba Roads. Our major challenge in road rehabilitation is lack of equipment. Our only grader is over 20 years old and is constantly down. We are currently harnessing resources so that we fully equip the engineering department,” said Eng Chindenga.
Chipinge Rural District Council said it has used 75 percent of the $3million disbursed to it.
The local authority is also refurbishing the schools that were recently damaged by Tropical Storm Chalane.
Chipinge RDC Engineer Henry Dhliwayo confirmed this.
“We have used 75 percent of the money allocated to us. After acquittal of the money, we will apply for a further $20m to complete our projects.
“We are targeting to rehabilitate the Rimai Road linking Checheche Growth Point and the Chipinge-Mandikisi Road.
Currently we are working on the 1,5km stretch linking Madziwa Primary School to the main road. We will gravel the road and create culverts,” said Eng Dhliwayo.
He also bemoaned the lack of machinery in local authorities.
“We do not have reliable machinery and hiring equipment is very expensive. If we had good machinery we could do so much more,” said Eng Dhliwayo.
However, Chipinge Town Council is still in the process of flighting tenders for its projects.
The council chairperson, Councillor Zivanai Nyakuchena said the local authority is targeting to re-seal 5 600 square meters.
“The council will also construct catch pits and storm drainage systems. We will also do pothole patching. We are flighting tenders for the work to be done,” said Councillor Nyakuchena.
Mutasa Rural District Council Engineer Tendai Danana said the local authority has received $3.8m so far.
“Momentum is building up in the execution of our projects. Our two graders and a backhoe loader were down but they are now up. We have also advertised for tenders and bids for equipment hiring to speed up the process.
“We want to cover as much ground as possible. We are targeting township roads in Penhalonga, Tsvingwe, Mutasa Centre and Hauna Growth Point. We will also be working on the Shamhu Road in Ward 18, the Kagweda-Zambe Road in Ward 14, roads in Zindi area as well as the Grange Road where we will patch potholes and reseal about 4km,” said Eng Danana.
