News / Local
Bulawayo gets $430,000 for roads rehab
30 Mar 2016 at 06:47hrs | Views
ZINARA has set aside $899,000 for the rehabilitation of roads in Bulawayo with $430,000 having already been disbursed.
This was revealed at the council's quarterly media briefing last Wednesday by council officials.
The Director of Engineering Services, Simela Dube, said $430,000 had been disbursed so far and they had budgeted $135,000 for pothole patching, $295,000 for resealing of roads and installation of directional signs on major roads.
"We've budgeted $135,000 for pothole patching which will be done by community groups and $295,000 targeted for the resealing of Hillside Road, Trade Fair Area, which overlays on R.G Mugabe and 12th Ave, resealing and overlaying Luveve Road, Hyde Park Road and Nketa Drive.
"We've also allocated for the installation of directional signs on the city's major roads within that $295,000" he said.
Simela said tenders had been drafted and would be advertised soon.
Last year, Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo, said the city was facing challenges in servicing roads due to the harsh economic environment.
He said in 2012, a consultant found that 69 percent of the city's roads (2,064 kilometres in all) were in a very poor condition.
"Maintaining the road network was projected to cost $691 million for the 10 years commencing in 2012, translating to $69 million a year.
"It's noted that such an amount is beyond reach for BCC or any institution of a similar nature in the Zimbabwean economy for that matter," said Clr Moyo.
The mayor said from 2012 to date, the local authority resealed, re-gravelled and reconstructed major roads in the city.
"In 2015 alone, more than 50km of road rehabilitations have been performed with about five kilometres reconstructed," said Clr Moyo.
He said council had budgeted $3,5 million for road rehabilitation in 2016.
"For council to achieve the desired results, funding is required.
"We're requesting residents to assist in achieving this by timeously paying their bills," said the mayor.
This was revealed at the council's quarterly media briefing last Wednesday by council officials.
The Director of Engineering Services, Simela Dube, said $430,000 had been disbursed so far and they had budgeted $135,000 for pothole patching, $295,000 for resealing of roads and installation of directional signs on major roads.
"We've budgeted $135,000 for pothole patching which will be done by community groups and $295,000 targeted for the resealing of Hillside Road, Trade Fair Area, which overlays on R.G Mugabe and 12th Ave, resealing and overlaying Luveve Road, Hyde Park Road and Nketa Drive.
"We've also allocated for the installation of directional signs on the city's major roads within that $295,000" he said.
Simela said tenders had been drafted and would be advertised soon.
Last year, Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo, said the city was facing challenges in servicing roads due to the harsh economic environment.
"Maintaining the road network was projected to cost $691 million for the 10 years commencing in 2012, translating to $69 million a year.
"It's noted that such an amount is beyond reach for BCC or any institution of a similar nature in the Zimbabwean economy for that matter," said Clr Moyo.
The mayor said from 2012 to date, the local authority resealed, re-gravelled and reconstructed major roads in the city.
"In 2015 alone, more than 50km of road rehabilitations have been performed with about five kilometres reconstructed," said Clr Moyo.
He said council had budgeted $3,5 million for road rehabilitation in 2016.
"For council to achieve the desired results, funding is required.
"We're requesting residents to assist in achieving this by timeously paying their bills," said the mayor.
Source - chronicle
