The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
THE Government has called on all roads authorities to ensure quality servicing during the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP).
A few months ago, President Mnangagwa revealed that the Government has set aside $33,6 billion for the Second Phase of the ERRP across the country. This was after Government in February declared the country’s road network a state of disaster as most of the roads have become untrafficable following damage by heavy rains that were received across the country and poor maintenance by local authorities.
Responding to journalists’ questions after touring some of the projects under the facility to assess progress, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde July Moyo said in the past they had noted that such rehabilitation works were sub-standard resulting in the roads being damaged within a year of their restoration.
He said in most cases the sub-standard jobs were because of the lack of technical plan by the contractors.
“Long back we used to ensure that local authorities have consulting engineers who they work with, these consulting engineers were tasked with giving second independent technical opinion on such projects, which was essential in quality control.
“These consulting engineers were essential not only for the road infrastructure but also in terms of water delivery.
However, seeing that for whatever reasons councils abandoned these consulting engineers we have to work with what we have to ensure quality control, in this case all the roads’ authorities in this exercise must work together in monitoring these contractors,” said Cde Moyo.
He said while the Government had divided the projects between the department of states roads and local authorities, what was important was for all these institutions to work together and know that their aim to achieve the same goals.
“The roads are maintained by three departments; the department of state roads, local authorities and the district development fund. As you might know the first and second phase of the rehabilitation works have been rolled into one, where we were looking at the patching and generally this has been achieved. What we have now moved to is resealing so that when the rains come these patched roads will be resealed, so that next year starting in March we start working on major works, so far we are happy with the progress,” said the Minister.
Cde Moyo said in embarking on the ERRP, it was President Mnangagwa’s hope that it would go a long way in spurring economic and social development in the country.
“The damage to our roads both urban and rural has been very severe. Government has taken over the rehabilitation of a number of roads which are essential to the economic and social development of Bulawayo.
“Government has also given money to the Bulawayo City Council to look after other roads. The President hopes that if we can resuscitate these roads, it will spur economic development,” said Cde Moyo.
During the tour, Cde Moyo visited Fife Street and Siyephambili roads. He was accompanied by Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs, Judith Ncube and Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni.
The Bulawayo City Council has indicated that about 75 percent of the city’s road network has outlived its lifespan and US$700 million was needed for the project.
