BCC gets pothole patching machine

THE Minister of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural  Development, Nicholas Goche, yesterday handed over a state-of-the-art pothole patching machine worth thousands of dollars to the Bulawayo City Council and also commissioned the computerised toll plaza in Figtree.

Handing over the machine to the council staff in the presence of hundreds of residents in Makokoba, Minister Goche said recapitalisation of local authorities was part of the Ministry's 2013 to 2015 strategic plan aimed at alleviating challenges facing councils in road maintenance.

"We have handed over the jet-patching machine to the City of Harare and we are now handing over another machine to the City of Bulawayo. Other cities and towns with surfaced roads will also be receiving similar equipment in phases," said Minister Goche.

"Another 40 motorised graders are expected by September 2013 and will be distributed so that each rural road authority has its motorised grader.  Each road authority should be equipped with a motorised grader, front end loader, two tippers, a roller and a dumper. This strategy will enable local authorities to execute their mandate of provision of road infrastructure services effectively."

The machinery would be an addition to the 40 state-of-the-art, three in one motorised graders acquired for rural district councils, the District Development Fund (DDF) and the Department of Roads countrywide, which President Mugabe commissioned recently.