'State of roads main cause of accidents'

MANICALAND'S road network is in a poor state, having deteriorated over the years and now poses grave danger to motorists as funding to make them trafficable remains elusive. At least $2 billion is required for major roads maintenance.

The Department of Roads superintends over 2 712 kilometres of high volume tarred (1 533km) and gravelled roads (1180km), with the District Development Fund (DDF) taking care of 3 358km of low volume roads and the 10 local authorities catering for feeder roads in their respective districts.

The Department Of Roads has three projects, measuring a paltry 44km, slated for 2016.

DOR provincial head, Engineer Arnold Mutungwazi, said bad roads were now one of the major causes of road accidents and premature deaths in Manicaland.

Reckless and dangerous driving, speeding and vehicle defects also contribute to the carnage on the roads.

Eng Mutungwazi said maintenance was halted due to lack of funds.

Projects for 2016 include resurfacing of the Ngundu-Tanganda Road for 20km ($500 000); resealing of Rusape-Nyanga Road for 10km ($500 000) and rehabilitation of the Birchenough Bridge 14km zone ($2m).

"These are the only projects allocated funding in the 2016 budget and at this level of funding the road network in Manicaland will continue deteriorating, contributing to road carnage and high transport costs.

"The danger, however, is that the more the roads deteriorate, the more expensive they become to rehabilitate and if you look at the projects slated for 2016, they add up to 44km out of the 2 712km under our armpit. What percentage is that?" said Eng Mutungwazi.

Eng Mutungwazi said the roads had outlived their lifespan, while some have not been attended to for 20 years.

They should be maintained after every five years.

"Some were last attended to 20 years ago which means they have outlived their lifespan. We appreciate that improved roads lead to improvement in the reliability of access and transport services, but there is not funding for that," said Eng Mutungwazi.

The main benefits of road investment include reduction in transport costs, reduced travel times and reduced vehicle operating costs.

DDF provincial head, Mr Robert Chawatama, said they only managed to rehabilitate 540km of the 3 358km.

DDF requires $200 to maintain a kilometre of gravel road.

"Our dilemma includes lack of funding, obsolete and the constantly breaking down of equipment. We only have nine functioning road units instead of 27, yet gravel roads require religious maintenance because once they are left to deteriorate, it becomes very expensive to put them back to their proper functional state," said Mr Chawatama.

A report from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development shows that not less than $2 billion is required to put Manicaland roads back in good shape.

The 118 kilometre Murambinda-Birchenough Road needs $116m, the 93km Odzi-Marange was quoted at $87m.

The 112km Headlands-Chikore Road requires $94m, while the Chimanimani-TilburyRroad needs $6m.

The Ngundu-Tanganda road requires $9, 2m, while the 82km Nyanga-Ruwangwe Road requires $82m.

Odzani route, which is 31km, was quoted at $31m.

The 29km Chipinge-Mt Selinda Road was quoted $14,5m, while the Chako-Jersey Road needs $6,3m.

Eastern Boarder Road needs $12, 4m. Katiyo Road needs $10m. Riverside-Odzi Road needs $3m.

The Chivhu-Nyazura Road requires $3m, while the resurfacing of the Mutare-Masvingo Road requires $29,6m, resurfacing of 36km stretch of Rusape-Nyanga Road requires $3m, while Mutare-Vumba Road resurfacing requires $1m.

The report stated that no activity was taking place on these roads due to lack of funding and proposed that, at best, these roads could be rehabilitated through Private Public Partnerships (PPPS).

Acting Chipinge Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Blessing Mamvosha, said his council superintends 1 500km road network, out of which 400km were trafficable.

"We only received $76 000 instead of $352 000 from Zinara and we have managed to do 400km and we have an extended mandate to do even DDF and DOR roads," said Mr Mamvosha.

Mr Mamvosha said earth and gravel roads deteriorate quickly with traffic and rainfall and they need frequent maintenance, which may cover activities like drainage maintenance, surface grading and pothole filling.