Beatific Gumbwanda
03 Feb 2017 – CHIREDZI – Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) has allocated a measly US$240 000 to Chiredzi Town Council for road construction and maintenance for the year 2017.
The pittance means the deplorable state of roads in the town will persist, with Lion Road, which was ‘refurbished’ a mere three months ago, already pothole ridden due to poor workmanship.
Engineer Wesley Kauma confirmed that they received an allocation of US$240 000 for this year’s road maintenance and construction.
They were also directed to spend 30 percent of the funds (US$72 000) on maintenance and the rest ($168 000) for construction.
Kauma also indicated that most of the roads are old and they need new ones as patching of roads is temporary.
“Most of our infrastructure is 30 years old and maintaining them should be a temporary measure. We have to build new infrastructure,” he said.
Despite making millions of dollars every year through toll fees and vehicle registration money, Zinara does not remit enough to rural and urban councils, and the national road infrastructure continues to crumble under its watch.
In Chiredzi South, a flooded Runde River continues to be a danger to villagers, with no sign that the ramshackle Chilonga Bridge will be upgraded.news
