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Zinara pours US$175 million into roads but . . .
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The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) disbursed US$175.5 million for road maintenance during the first half of the year, accelerating infrastructure spending as authorities seek to tackle a growing backlog of repairs across the country's deteriorating road network.
According to Zinara's latest disbursement report, the agency had released more than ZiG4.6 billion (US$175.5 million) to road authorities by June 30, representing 47.1% of the ZiG9.8 billion (US$363 million) approved for road maintenance this year.
The pace of funding has increased significantly from the same period last year, when road authorities had utilised about ZiG3.3 billion (US$127 million), equivalent to just 29% of the annual maintenance budget.
"The strong performance recorded during the first half of the year places the 2026 road maintenance programme firmly on course," Zinara said.
The increased funding comes as Zimbabwe continues to face major infrastructure challenges that raise transport costs for businesses and threaten the movement of agricultural, mining and manufactured goods.
With nearly half of the annual road maintenance budget already disbursed by midyear, authorities have greater resources to repair damaged roads and improve connectivity between production centres and markets.
The Department of Roads, which is responsible for the national road network, had received its full allocation of ZiG421.4 million (US$16 million), according to the report.
The Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida) had received ZiG115.1 million (US$4.4 million), representing 47.3% of its annual allocation for road improvements in rural communities.
Rida has also used part of the funding to purchase 19 supervision vehicles aimed at strengthening oversight and monitoring of rural road projects.
However, the pace of implementation has varied across provinces.
Mashonaland West recorded the highest utilisation rate at 47.5%, followed by Mashonaland Central at 46.7%.
Masvingo had utilised 36% of its allocation, while Midlands stood at 35.6%.
Matabeleland South recorded 35%, followed by Mashonaland East at 31.1% and Manicaland at 30.3%.
The funding figures nevertheless highlight that disbursement alone will not determine the success of the road maintenance programme.
Road authorities will need to convert the allocations into actual rehabilitation and maintenance work if the programme is to make a meaningful impact on the country's road network.
Zinara's stronger first-half performance also contrasts sharply with spending on its weighbridge programme, which is designed to help control overloaded vehicles blamed for contributing to road deterioration.
By June 30, the weighbridge programme had spent only ZiG1.03 million (US$40,000) against an approved budget of ZiG192.4 million (US$7.4 million).
That represented just 1% utilisation, highlighting a significant gap between the pace of road maintenance funding and the implementation of measures intended to protect the country's road infrastructure from further damage.
According to Zinara's latest disbursement report, the agency had released more than ZiG4.6 billion (US$175.5 million) to road authorities by June 30, representing 47.1% of the ZiG9.8 billion (US$363 million) approved for road maintenance this year.
The pace of funding has increased significantly from the same period last year, when road authorities had utilised about ZiG3.3 billion (US$127 million), equivalent to just 29% of the annual maintenance budget.
"The strong performance recorded during the first half of the year places the 2026 road maintenance programme firmly on course," Zinara said.
The increased funding comes as Zimbabwe continues to face major infrastructure challenges that raise transport costs for businesses and threaten the movement of agricultural, mining and manufactured goods.
With nearly half of the annual road maintenance budget already disbursed by midyear, authorities have greater resources to repair damaged roads and improve connectivity between production centres and markets.
The Department of Roads, which is responsible for the national road network, had received its full allocation of ZiG421.4 million (US$16 million), according to the report.
The Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida) had received ZiG115.1 million (US$4.4 million), representing 47.3% of its annual allocation for road improvements in rural communities.
Rida has also used part of the funding to purchase 19 supervision vehicles aimed at strengthening oversight and monitoring of rural road projects.
However, the pace of implementation has varied across provinces.
Mashonaland West recorded the highest utilisation rate at 47.5%, followed by Mashonaland Central at 46.7%.
Masvingo had utilised 36% of its allocation, while Midlands stood at 35.6%.
Matabeleland South recorded 35%, followed by Mashonaland East at 31.1% and Manicaland at 30.3%.
The funding figures nevertheless highlight that disbursement alone will not determine the success of the road maintenance programme.
Road authorities will need to convert the allocations into actual rehabilitation and maintenance work if the programme is to make a meaningful impact on the country's road network.
Zinara's stronger first-half performance also contrasts sharply with spending on its weighbridge programme, which is designed to help control overloaded vehicles blamed for contributing to road deterioration.
By June 30, the weighbridge programme had spent only ZiG1.03 million (US$40,000) against an approved budget of ZiG192.4 million (US$7.4 million).
That represented just 1% utilisation, highlighting a significant gap between the pace of road maintenance funding and the implementation of measures intended to protect the country's road infrastructure from further damage.
Source - The Independent
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