BCC spends only US$700,000 on roads per year

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has revealed that it allocates approximately US$700,000 annually to road rehabilitation programs, relying on private sector contractors to supplement its efforts due to limited internal resources.

With 70% of the city's roads having exceeded their lifespan, the council has opted for periodic maintenance to ensure trafficability rather than undertaking full-scale reconstructions. Recent efforts have included pothole patching on major roads.

Bulawayo communication officer, Ms. Bongiwe Ngwenya, disclosed that 3,000 square meters of potholes were patched this year, costing nearly US$700,000. The council's contractors for 2024 have completed their scope of work, and new contractors will be engaged in early 2025 through an open tender system.

"The pothole patching program will continue year-on-year, using both council teams and private contractors until our road maintenance teams are fully resourced," Ngwenya said.

Ms. Ngwenya highlighted that BCC relies on private contractors to address the vast road maintenance needs of the city.

"The council outsources or subcontracts road maintenance activities, as well as plant and equipment, to augment council resources. Currently, we engage two companies for pothole patching and hire equipment from more than five others," she explained.

Bulawayo's road maintenance program includes periodic works such as reconstruction, overlays, reseals, and road markings, alongside routine tasks like pothole patching and drain clearing. Budget allocation is split, with 75% directed towards periodic works and 25% for routine maintenance.

The council also received a boost from Hawkflight Construction, a local company that patched potholes along Khami Road to Emthunzini suburb as a donation. The works included road markings and were completed at no cost to the council.

"The donation by Hawkflight Construction to rehabilitate Khami Road is commendable and demonstrates the potential for public-private partnerships to address our road challenges," Ngwenya said.

By October 2024, the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) had disbursed over ZWG 13 million to Bulawayo for road rehabilitation projects. Despite these funds, the scale of the city's road infrastructure issues remains significant, underscoring the need for continued investment and collaboration.

The council plans to sustain its road rehabilitation and maintenance programs while exploring innovative funding mechanisms to improve the city's transport infrastructure.