News / Local
Bulawayo earmarks US$14 million for roads
23 Oct 2023 at 01:30hrs | Views
The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has allocated US$14 million for the restoration of the city's deteriorating road infrastructure, which has been plagued by potholes.
The city's road network has suffered from deterioration due to aging and insufficient maintenance caused by limited resources. A road condition survey has indicated that approximately 80% of the city's road network requires rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Although the government launched the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) in 2021 to refurbish roads nationwide, Bulawayo councillors have criticized government contractors involved in ERRP for subpar workmanship, arguing that the task should have been entrusted to the local authority.
According to the proposed US$264 million 2024 budget, the BCC has earmarked US$14 million for road projects. Some of the road rehabilitation projects outlined in the budget include Lobengula Street (US$900,000), Fort Street (US$750,000), Herbert Chitepo Street (US$800,000), Steel Works road (US$5.85 million), Matopos Road (US$2.75 million), Luveve Road (US$600,000), Maduma Road (US$650,000), Murchison Road (US$1.2 million), Fairbridge Way (US$680,000), and Wellington Road (US$325,000), among others.
However, some residents have expressed skepticism regarding the council's ability to deliver on these plans, citing previous issues with service delivery. They argue that past budgets have not addressed critical service delivery challenges, such as the dwindling ambulance and refuse collection truck fleet and aging water and sewer pipes, exacerbated by overpopulation.
Effie Ncube, a spokesperson for the National Consumer Rights Association, noted that while some challenges are not budgetary but mindset-related, all stakeholders, including residents, must work together to improve the city. He emphasized the importance of residents paying their bills, avoiding property vandalism, and not littering.
Permanent Ngoma, the executive director of the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, called on the newly sworn-in councillors to prioritize the rehabilitation programs and address residents' concerns. He pointed out that residents continue to experience issues related to essential services and that the 2023 budget did not adequately address these concerns.
In the midst of these challenges, Bulawayo residents are facing water shortages, and concerns over the spread of cholera have also arisen across the country.
The city's road network has suffered from deterioration due to aging and insufficient maintenance caused by limited resources. A road condition survey has indicated that approximately 80% of the city's road network requires rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Although the government launched the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) in 2021 to refurbish roads nationwide, Bulawayo councillors have criticized government contractors involved in ERRP for subpar workmanship, arguing that the task should have been entrusted to the local authority.
According to the proposed US$264 million 2024 budget, the BCC has earmarked US$14 million for road projects. Some of the road rehabilitation projects outlined in the budget include Lobengula Street (US$900,000), Fort Street (US$750,000), Herbert Chitepo Street (US$800,000), Steel Works road (US$5.85 million), Matopos Road (US$2.75 million), Luveve Road (US$600,000), Maduma Road (US$650,000), Murchison Road (US$1.2 million), Fairbridge Way (US$680,000), and Wellington Road (US$325,000), among others.
Effie Ncube, a spokesperson for the National Consumer Rights Association, noted that while some challenges are not budgetary but mindset-related, all stakeholders, including residents, must work together to improve the city. He emphasized the importance of residents paying their bills, avoiding property vandalism, and not littering.
Permanent Ngoma, the executive director of the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, called on the newly sworn-in councillors to prioritize the rehabilitation programs and address residents' concerns. He pointed out that residents continue to experience issues related to essential services and that the 2023 budget did not adequately address these concerns.
In the midst of these challenges, Bulawayo residents are facing water shortages, and concerns over the spread of cholera have also arisen across the country.
Source - newsday
