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Over 3,000km of Harare roads need urgent repairs
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MORE than 3,000 kilometres of road networks in Harare require urgent rehabilitation, highlighting the worsening state of infrastructure in the capital, Parliament has heard.
Deputy Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joshua Sacco revealed the figures recently while outlining the condition of roads across the country.
According to Sacco, Harare has 3,772 kilometres of roads in need of resurfacing, with only 316 kilometres having been rehabilitated so far.
In Bulawayo Province, about 1,500 kilometres of roads require attention, while 661 kilometres have already been resurfaced.
The Deputy Minister acknowledged that the extent of deterioration remains a major concern, but said Government has embarked on programmes aimed at capacitating local authorities to maintain and rehabilitate road infrastructure.
"Mr Speaker, whilst the number of kilometres surfaced is not sufficient, the Ministry has embarked on the capacitation of all road authorities in Zimbabwe to enable timely maintenance of road infrastructure," said Sacco.
"This will greatly preserve the road infrastructure and lower the costs of road rehabilitation. It is in that regard that the Ministry aims to attend to all the roads that require rehabilitation as prescribed in the National Development Strategy."
The poor condition of urban roads has triggered ongoing disputes between local authorities and central Government, with both sides blaming each other for the deterioration and proliferation of potholes.
City councils argue that Government has not disbursed adequate funding for road maintenance and rehabilitation.
In Harare, the City Council has resorted to using quarry stones and temporary pothole patching measures as a stop-gap solution.
Government has since intensified its national road rehabilitation programme to address the worsening situation.
Responding to concerns over whether some provinces were receiving preferential treatment, Sacco said regions with major highways and economic corridors naturally attract priority due to their strategic importance.
"Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure that the development or resurfacing of these roads is done across the country," he said.
"However, as you may be aware, certain provinces like Masvingo, for example, have a road that comes from Beitbridge to Masvingo, the South North Corridor, of which we have 139 kilometres that have been surfaced to date."
He also cited the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway as another major route contributing to the high number of resurfaced kilometres in Matabeleland North.
"So, some provinces have what we call major highways or corridors that feed the region, and these obviously will get preference over other smaller roads," said Sacco.
"However, having said that, it is our role as a Ministry to work on all roads across the country and, resources permitting, leave no one and no place behind."
Deputy Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joshua Sacco revealed the figures recently while outlining the condition of roads across the country.
According to Sacco, Harare has 3,772 kilometres of roads in need of resurfacing, with only 316 kilometres having been rehabilitated so far.
In Bulawayo Province, about 1,500 kilometres of roads require attention, while 661 kilometres have already been resurfaced.
The Deputy Minister acknowledged that the extent of deterioration remains a major concern, but said Government has embarked on programmes aimed at capacitating local authorities to maintain and rehabilitate road infrastructure.
"Mr Speaker, whilst the number of kilometres surfaced is not sufficient, the Ministry has embarked on the capacitation of all road authorities in Zimbabwe to enable timely maintenance of road infrastructure," said Sacco.
"This will greatly preserve the road infrastructure and lower the costs of road rehabilitation. It is in that regard that the Ministry aims to attend to all the roads that require rehabilitation as prescribed in the National Development Strategy."
The poor condition of urban roads has triggered ongoing disputes between local authorities and central Government, with both sides blaming each other for the deterioration and proliferation of potholes.
City councils argue that Government has not disbursed adequate funding for road maintenance and rehabilitation.
In Harare, the City Council has resorted to using quarry stones and temporary pothole patching measures as a stop-gap solution.
Government has since intensified its national road rehabilitation programme to address the worsening situation.
Responding to concerns over whether some provinces were receiving preferential treatment, Sacco said regions with major highways and economic corridors naturally attract priority due to their strategic importance.
"Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure that the development or resurfacing of these roads is done across the country," he said.
"However, as you may be aware, certain provinces like Masvingo, for example, have a road that comes from Beitbridge to Masvingo, the South North Corridor, of which we have 139 kilometres that have been surfaced to date."
He also cited the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway as another major route contributing to the high number of resurfaced kilometres in Matabeleland North.
"So, some provinces have what we call major highways or corridors that feed the region, and these obviously will get preference over other smaller roads," said Sacco.
"However, having said that, it is our role as a Ministry to work on all roads across the country and, resources permitting, leave no one and no place behind."
Source - newzimbabwe
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