Emmanuel Chitsika
Masvingo councillors have called on government to ensure improvement on both the timeframe in which road projects under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2) are completed as well as the quality of the roads.
The call was made by Masvingo Urban ward 7 councillor Richard Musekiwa during the full council meeting held at Town House on August 4, 2022 where he pointed out the delayed completion of one such road (Bandwe) in Rujeko C suburb.
“Residents are very much concerned about the state of Bandwe road whose construction started a few months ago. No meaningful progress has been realised towards completion of the road except being gravelled.
“My worry is that we are already in the summer and sooner or later we will be in the rainy season and if the works are not completed on time, there is danger that the gravel will be washed away by running water. The road just has gravel and has since opened for traffic despite the fact that it is incomplete,” said Musekiwa.
He also suggested that it would be wiser for government to engage council and open lines of communication since the roads are in council areas of jurisdiction and liaison would bring fruits on the table concerning such works.
“I think since some of these roads are in our areas as council, it would be wiser for government to engage council so that they are kept informed on such developments and how the works might be progressing.
“We may make an appeal to the roads engineer even the Provincial roads engineer to update council on such works under ERRP 2. These roads need to be completed long before the onset of the rainy season,” he added.
His sentiments were echoed by Mayor Collen Maboke who said completion of such road projects should be done timely without considering the rainy season as Climate Change has influenced weather pattern changes.
“Besides the coming of the rainy season, climate change has seen a marked shift in weather patterns and the rains can fall anytime. Even during the summer, we can receive rains. There is another road in the Central Business District (CBD) where gravel was laid but it is yet to be completed.
“Though the idea to renovate the roads is noble, what is worrisome is the time that it takes to complete the projects,” said Maboke.
Responding to the issues, ward 10 councillor Sengerayi Manyanga who chairs public works and planning committee pointed at shortage of resource as the main reason behind delays on such projects.
“Right now the contractors have not yet received resources from government and they are using own funds a factor that can be derailing progress. They however, were assured that sooner than later government would make available the needed resources,” said Manyanga.
Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said council once engaged the Provincial roads engineer on such issues and was open to the idea of inviting them to present their work reports to council as councillors may require them to.
“Last time, we had a discussion with the provincial roads engineer and Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution where we discussed some of these issues like the ERRP roads. The Provincial Secretary (Dr Jefta Sakupwanya) also committed his support at national level and thus even assisting councils when facing challenges.
“However, if council feels there is need for us to invite the provincial roads engineer for presentation, we can ask him to consider it,” he said.
Some local authorities have in the past expressed displeasure on the quality of work under ERRP with Chiredzi being on top of the list following poor workmanship on Lion Drive which developed potholes hours after opening to traffic.
