Government set aside $20m for Cyclone Dineo damaged roads

Transport minister Joram Gumbo has said the cash strapped  government has availed $20 million for road rehabilitation mostly targeted at urban roads and highways.
The money which, according to Gumbo was released by Treasury last week, was aimed at rehabilitating the road network damaged by Cyclone Dineo-induced floods that have left some areas impassable with roads and bridges swept away.
"There is a special taskforce mandated to mobilise resources which comprises of the ministers of Finance, Local Government and my ministry. From these resources being mobilised, we have asked the State Procurement Board to waiver tendering rules so that we deal with this crisis we find ourselves in following floods that have made some areas inaccessible," Gumbo said as quoted by NewsDay.
"From the quotations we are looking at the cheapest one. Instead of spending two to three months processing how to engage road contractors when some areas are inaccessible, it would be unfair for our people," Gumbo said.
He said part of the money would go to local authorities to clear storm drains, repair damaged bridges in city centres as well as patch potholed roads.
Last week, Gumbo  admitted that the road network in Zimbabwe has become a death trap for motorists saddle the government is faced with crippling economic situation which curtail it from rehabilitating the road network.
Gumbo was speaking during senate in parliament.
"I am on record stating that all our roads are a disaster and are deplorable.  You cannot drive safely as there is a danger to your car and to yourself because of potholes, particularly when it is raining because you cannot even tell whether you are going to hit a pothole, as it is just water.  It is even worse in rural areas because the roads have been swept away," he said. 
"Even in tarred roads, you would wish you were driving on a dust road than a tarred road.  I accept that.  What we have now done as a result of the disaster that has been declared by His Excellency Robert G Mugabe, is to look at all the road networks including urban areas.  
"As a Ministry, we are working with ZINARA and the Ministry of Local Government- working on urban roads.  We are addressing that situation right now because we are working with a Committee that is mobilising funds so that we can work on our washed away bridges, dams, clinics, hospitals and so on."