News / Regional
Bulawayo-Nkayi Road construction resumes after a decade
28 Dec 2011 at 17:49hrs | Views
THE construction of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, which has been in limbo for more than a decade, has resumed.
Millions of United States dollars are required to complete the widening of the road, which has been at the centre of debate among other projects on the alleged underdevelopment of the Matabeleland region.
At the moment only 43km of the 158km road has been widened.
Although Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche could not be reached for further details, Bubi Member of the House of Assembly Cde Clifford Sibanda said the contractor in charge of the project had moved on to the site and started work.
"Bulawayo-Nkayi Road construction has resumed. The contractor is already on site and work has started. As it is part of the three-kilometre stretch that was left has been covered and the remaining part would be finished at the beginning of next month," said Cde Sibanda.
"You are aware that people closed for the holiday and as soon as the holiday is over they would continue working. We urge the Government to ensure that funds are released every year for the project to be completed.
"The widening of that road is set to boost investment in areas along the road especially in mining. The Government must give this project priority like it does to other projects. I have made this known to the Ministry of Transport."
When a Chronicle news crew visited the site near Queens Business Centre, about 46 kilometres from Bulawayo on Monday, it observed that about two kilometres of the three-kilometre stretch that was abandoned when the project stopped were tarred while the remaining part had been resurfaced but yet to be tarred.
Although the contractor was not at work, the construction equipment including earthmovers and caterpillars were parked beside the road.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a worker who was at the site said construction started early this month.
"We started at the beginning of this month. Our target was to finish the three-kilometre stretch before Christmas but we were delayed because our machinery had problems.
"As it is we have stopped work for a while and we expect to start on 4 January 2012," said the worker.
There has been concern over the slow progress in the construction of major roads in Matabeleland region.
These include Bulawayo-Kezi Road and Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road.
Most of these roads have not been maintained for many years. They are also filled with potholes that make them difficult to drive on.
Minister Goche is on record saying the projects were hampered by inadequate funding and blamed the Ministry of Finance for poor budgeting.
He said Bulawayo-Nkayi Road like any other road in the country was on the Government plan for expansion and surfacing.
Minister Goche also said the funding for road maintenance from Zinara was not sufficient.
Millions of United States dollars are required to complete the widening of the road, which has been at the centre of debate among other projects on the alleged underdevelopment of the Matabeleland region.
At the moment only 43km of the 158km road has been widened.
Although Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche could not be reached for further details, Bubi Member of the House of Assembly Cde Clifford Sibanda said the contractor in charge of the project had moved on to the site and started work.
"Bulawayo-Nkayi Road construction has resumed. The contractor is already on site and work has started. As it is part of the three-kilometre stretch that was left has been covered and the remaining part would be finished at the beginning of next month," said Cde Sibanda.
"You are aware that people closed for the holiday and as soon as the holiday is over they would continue working. We urge the Government to ensure that funds are released every year for the project to be completed.
"The widening of that road is set to boost investment in areas along the road especially in mining. The Government must give this project priority like it does to other projects. I have made this known to the Ministry of Transport."
When a Chronicle news crew visited the site near Queens Business Centre, about 46 kilometres from Bulawayo on Monday, it observed that about two kilometres of the three-kilometre stretch that was abandoned when the project stopped were tarred while the remaining part had been resurfaced but yet to be tarred.
Although the contractor was not at work, the construction equipment including earthmovers and caterpillars were parked beside the road.
"We started at the beginning of this month. Our target was to finish the three-kilometre stretch before Christmas but we were delayed because our machinery had problems.
"As it is we have stopped work for a while and we expect to start on 4 January 2012," said the worker.
There has been concern over the slow progress in the construction of major roads in Matabeleland region.
These include Bulawayo-Kezi Road and Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road.
Most of these roads have not been maintained for many years. They are also filled with potholes that make them difficult to drive on.
Minister Goche is on record saying the projects were hampered by inadequate funding and blamed the Ministry of Finance for poor budgeting.
He said Bulawayo-Nkayi Road like any other road in the country was on the Government plan for expansion and surfacing.
Minister Goche also said the funding for road maintenance from Zinara was not sufficient.
Source - Chronicle
