The Sunday News
Kiyapili Sibanda, Business Reporter
THE Lupane Local Board has received $300 000 from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) to finance construction of roads in the town.
The fund adds to the $3 million that was recently advanced to the Matabeleland North provincial capital by the World Bank towards installation of a water reticulation system. Lupane Local Board town secretary Mr Charlton Moyo confirmed the development and said construction work was already underway.
He told Sunday Business that initially the road construction work was supposed to take three months but their contractor told them that work could be completed in a month’s time.
“We have received a grant of $300 000 from Zinara meant for the construction of roads in Lupane Business Centre. Construction is underway and according to our contractor they said it can be finished in a month’s time as opposed to three months,” said Mr Moyo.
He said the construction of roads would attract the much needed investment to the town, which is the provincial capital for Matabeleland North. Mr Moyo said road construction was a big step towards improving the transportation system.
“This is a very big step in moving the centre forward. This will attract investment into Lupane because business can be done smoothly. Remember the roads were not accessible especially for the small vehicles,” he said.
Mr Moyo said while Zinara was disbursing funds bit by bit it would go a long way in alleviating challenges when it comes to transportation. Last year, the Local Board developed a master plan to serve as a guide to develop the town amid revelations that the proposed new urban set up will accommodate about 50 000 residents.
