News / Regional
Gwanda residents demand construction of roads and bridge
22 May 2015 at 09:01hrs | Views
Gwanda residents have called for the construction of roads and bridge in the district amid revelations the Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Obert Mpofu said it is not government priority to resurface probably with tar the 56km Gwanda - Maphisa Road.
Gwanda Residents Association Spokesperson Bekezela Fuzwayo said the road they want constructed is the only possible link between Matobo and Plumtree districts with the Mat South provincial capital Gwanda.
"As things stand right now, anyone travelling from these areas to Gwanda has to take the trip via Bulawayo which is an additional 240 km," said Fuzwayo.
"Since independence every person who has campaigned to be an MP in these districts has been promising that the road is a priority. In fact some have told us without mincing their words that this road according to government records was tarred in the early 80s."
He said 35 years on, the road remains arguably the worst road in the country yet the most important that can complete the link of the province.
"If this road is not a priority to Minister Mpofu and his Ministry then what priority does his ministry have for the province other than telling us that they are contemplating increasing the number of toll gates on the Beitbridge Bulawayo and the Plumtree Bulawayo roads?' he said.
"Just to remind that the people of this province have a history, a history from our fore fathers when Mzilikazi refused to hand over cattle to Tshaka Zulu because Tshaka was taking all the riches generated by Mzilikazi and keeping for his people giving Mzilikazi very little of it."
"We do not want to find ourselves invoking our historic capabilities by refusing to hand over to Harare the riches that our toll fees generate yet we remain driving on rocks and potholes."
He said they demand that this road and the construction of the Mtshabezi River bridge in Gwanda be a priority in this mid term budget.
"We are tired of being lied to about this road. What is 56km compared to the money we generate in our toll gates?" he said.
Gwanda Residents Association Spokesperson Bekezela Fuzwayo said the road they want constructed is the only possible link between Matobo and Plumtree districts with the Mat South provincial capital Gwanda.
"As things stand right now, anyone travelling from these areas to Gwanda has to take the trip via Bulawayo which is an additional 240 km," said Fuzwayo.
"Since independence every person who has campaigned to be an MP in these districts has been promising that the road is a priority. In fact some have told us without mincing their words that this road according to government records was tarred in the early 80s."
He said 35 years on, the road remains arguably the worst road in the country yet the most important that can complete the link of the province.
"If this road is not a priority to Minister Mpofu and his Ministry then what priority does his ministry have for the province other than telling us that they are contemplating increasing the number of toll gates on the Beitbridge Bulawayo and the Plumtree Bulawayo roads?' he said.
"Just to remind that the people of this province have a history, a history from our fore fathers when Mzilikazi refused to hand over cattle to Tshaka Zulu because Tshaka was taking all the riches generated by Mzilikazi and keeping for his people giving Mzilikazi very little of it."
"We do not want to find ourselves invoking our historic capabilities by refusing to hand over to Harare the riches that our toll fees generate yet we remain driving on rocks and potholes."
He said they demand that this road and the construction of the Mtshabezi River bridge in Gwanda be a priority in this mid term budget.
"We are tired of being lied to about this road. What is 56km compared to the money we generate in our toll gates?" he said.
Source - Byo24News
