Road rehab on course

Harare (New Ziana) –The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) says it has availed over $2billion between January and June 11 this year for road repairs across the country, as the government forges ahead with a national road rehabilitation program.

In February this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared all roads a state of disaster and launched an Emergency Road Rehabilitation Program (ERRP2) to repair the country’s roads which were badly damaged by heavy rains received during the last wet season.

According to Zinara, the department of roads received $467 689 482, the District Development Fund got $826 243 060, urban councils were given $442 912 251 while Rural District Councils got $293 317 681.

Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona said as of June 4, at least 23.6 kilometres of roads had been rehabilitated, 12km re-sealed; 421km have been re-gravelled while potholes have been patched on a cumulative 739.6km.

“The work achieved so far under ERRP2 is pleasing and government is determined to deliver a world class road network by 2030,” he said.

“One flagship project being implemented under the second republic is the refurbishment of Harare-Beitbridge highway. We are refurbishing the road using local resources and so far more than 200km have been opened to traffic and other stretches are going to be opened soon.”

Lizwe Bunu, Zinara acting board chairperson said the road administrator was in a sound position to continue supporting the road rehabilitation programme.

“I am pleased to announce that ZINARA is now collecting efficiently and thus well funded and able to disburse on time once all the necessary requests and acquittals are received from road authorities,” she said.
New Ziana