By A Correspondent- The Zanu PF led government has taken over 700km of roads from local authorities countrywide for the party to gain political mileage ahead of the 2023 national elections.
According to the state media, Zanu Pf would use funds Under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP), to rehabilitate the damaged roads.
Authorities have declared the country’s roads a “state of disaster”.
The road network which runs up to 708,6 km cover the length and breadth of the country’s 32 urban local authorities.
Harare Metropolitan Province has ceded 33 roads covering 249km to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, while 16 roads in Bulawayo (61,8km) have been taken over.
Nearly $16 billion has been set aside for the rehabilitation programme, with Mashonaland West province accounting for the bulk of the outlay at about $2,3 billion.
Roads in Harare will be refurbished at a cost of $1,3 billion, while those in Bulawayo will chew up $625 million.
Transport secretary Engineer Theodius Chinyanga, said the rehabilitation works will cover pothole patching and resurfacing of roads that have been excessively damaged.
He said most of the work will now commence. Requisite procurement of maintenance material has been completed.
“It is important that we indicate that most of the roads will receive pothole patching and in some instances where the road is too damaged for pothole patching it will be resurfaced,” said Eng Chinyanga.
“At the moment the resources that we have do not permit us to reconstruct all roads that is why we are patching potholes.
“Several roads and bridges around the country have outlived their design life and are showing signs of distress evidenced by heavy potholing, cracking and rutting among other visible failure modes. Most of these roads are now in need of rehabilitation or reconstruction.
“More progress in improving the road and bridge conditions around the country is expected in the immediate term as a number of procurements are being concluded and works starting under various road authorities.
“Government is also exploring ways of augmenting its purse in order to achieve more than originally targeted and prevent further deterioration of roads and bridges.”