The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube
THE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has embarked on a nationwide programme to rehabilitate severely damaged roads in preparation for distribution of grain under the drought relief programme.
Minister Joram Gumbo, during a tour of roads in Bulilima and Mangwe last week together with Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Simon Khaya Moyo, said his ministry was in the process of sampling roads which needed urgent attention throughout the country’s provinces. He said benefiting districts would be allocated funds, equipment and fuel for road maintenance works.
“I am conducting a road sampling process together with Zinara officials in order to identify severely damaged State roads. Not all districts will benefit as the intervention will only be implemented in selected areas. “We are trying to complement the efforts of other road authorities such as councils and DDF (District Development Fund). The main reason for this intervention programme is to prepare for the drought relief programme. The Government will soon roll out this programme in various provinces up until this time of the year in 2017. We have to ensure that all areas are accessible by then,’’ he said.
Dr Gumbo said he has so far sampled roads in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South. He said he was yet to proceed to Mashonaland West, Midlands, Masvingo and Manicaland. He said the programme was targeting communities hard hit by the drought situation as that was where the drought relief programme would be massively implemented.
Dr Gumbo said as for State roads in Bulilima and Mangwe districts, the councils would be allocated funds and equipment to boost road rehabilitation works.
“Councils are allocated funds for road rehabilitation each year but in addition to that selected areas will be allocated funds according to their needs. I have conducted a tour of three main roads in Bulilima and have concluded that they are in a terrible state. As an intervention measure we will assist in grading and rehabilitating the roads. The ministry will provide fuel, a grader and funds for spot gravelling, motorised grading, bush clearing, drainage works. This will also apply to other roads that will be identified in other areas,” said Dr Gumbo.
He said as part of efforts to improve the country’s road network system his ministry was set to advertise a tender in the next two weeks inviting a company that would be contracted to dualise the Beitbridge- Victoria Falls Road. He said the country’s road network system had been severely damaged by rains which were experienced recently.
Dr Gumbo said he was also conducting a follow up in various districts to ensure that funds that were allocated to councils for road works had been put to good use. Bulilima West National House of Assembly Member Cde Lungisani Nleya said the intervention by Government would bring a huge sigh of relief as most roads in his area were not trafficable.
He said the roads were severely damaged and minor grading activities by DDF and the council were not enough to address the problem. Minister Simon Khaya Moyo said the prevailing drought had struck several parts of the country and the Government was crafting several strategies to address the situation.
