ZINARA to improve pothole problems in Zimbabwe's roads

The Zimbabwe National Roads Administrator (Zinara) has started purchasing heavy duty pothole patching vehicles in a move that is set to improve the state of the country's roads.

The first of the vehicles, dubbed the Jetpatcher, was handed over to the Harare City Council last week while other road authorities are also set to receive machines during the course of the year.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Highfield on Thursday, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Cde Nicholas Goche said the Jetpatcher machines would help bring efficiency in road maintenance and minimise the misuse of funds by road authorities.

"The problem that we have been having with road authorities is that they misuse the funds which they are allocated to by Zinara.

"As a result we have not been seeing any improvements in the state of the country's roads but now that we have these machines a lot of progress is going to be made and, very soon, potholes could be a thing of the past," he said.

He said motorists can now expect to get value for their money, as the money that they use to pay toll fees and for vehicle licensing will be channelled directly to the purchase of the machines.

Minister Goche said the machines are highly efficient as they will do away with the manual system that has been used to repair the country's roads.

"All along we have been using the manual system but it consumes time and money and this is why our roads have remained deplorable.

"The purchase of these machines means that we are moving with technology and we will be able to reduce potholes in a very short space of time," he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said the Jetpatcher machines ensure that the roads remain smooth even after they are patched.

"This marks the beginning of the end for bumpy potholes. When potholes are repaired using the old system they remain bumpy but with this machine, the roads will remain smooth," he said.

Dr Chombo said the Jetpatcher machines would also help local authorities to cut costs of hiring expensive machines for road maintenance.

"Local authorities have been spending large amounts of money to hire equipment for road maintenance. The monies that they are charged are extortionate to say the least and if you look at how much money they spend hiring such equipment, it is the same as buying the Jetpatcher," he said.

Dr Chombo said his Ministry will monitor local authorities to ensure that the machines are used effectively.