Lack of funding hampers Bulawayo road rehab

 

 

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO 

 

The Bulawayo City Council  (BCC) says it will not  be able to rehabilitate its dilapidated road network due to lack of funding for routine and periodic maintenance.

The  condition of roads in Bulawayo has  deteriorated over the years.

Last year, the government declared the country’s roads a state of disaster to facilitate the release of funds for maintenance  and repair works.

It was also meant to facilitate local authorities to mobilise funds for the repair and rehabilitation of their road networks, which have now become death traps for the travelling public.

Bulawayo City Council Corporate Communication Officer Nesisa Mpofu said US$700m is required to bring the network to good condition. However,  budget allocations have been inadequate.

“Traditionally, government allocations through the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration and revenue accruing to Council have been the primary sources of funding for road infrastructure. Year on year, budget allocations have compared unfavourably with funding considered inadequate to maintain the road network,” Mpofu said.

“As a result, the road network has continued to deteriorate due to the gap between maintenance requirements and funding. The annual road budget is traditionally formulated on the basis of a ranking obtained from the latest available Road Condition Survey and the priority is on arterials, collectors, central business district and public transport route roads. Council is working to get the required resources to address the road challenges, and several initiatives are being made to secure capital funding for road improvements.”

The city’s overall road network is approximately 2 400km with 75% of its network in poor condition requiring urgent rehabilitation works, which include overlays and reconstruction works.

“To increase roads in good condition by 15% (360km) in the next five years, a minimum level of investment of US$15m per annum is required,” Mpofu said.

She said all road maintenance works have been halted due to wet ground with the exception of minor storm water drainage works owing to the rainy season.

Ward 20  Councillor Rodney Jele said: “It is difficult for us to do road rehabilitation.”

 

 

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