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Bulawayo Mayor rules out quick fix for City's deteriorating roads
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Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has acknowledged that the city's worsening road network crisis will not be resolved anytime soon due to a severe financial shortfall. The municipality requires approximately US$700 million for road rehabilitation, but resources remain scarce.
The state of Bulawayo's roads has been described as dire, with potholes riddling the network and heavy rains exacerbating the damage. The local authority estimates that 70% of its road infrastructure has outlived its lifespan, making urgent repairs essential.
During a council meeting on Wednesday, Coltart admitted that the municipality is in a deep financial crisis and has been unable to undertake meaningful road works. He revealed that efforts to secure funding through engagements with the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) are ongoing.
"We recently had a meeting with Zinara, and it promised to disburse funds to purchase machinery and maintain the main roads within the city," Coltart said. "We have been failing to do road maintenance due to a financial crisis, as we are unable to purchase the machinery and some materials."
Funding Challenges
The city relies on funds from Zinara, which collects revenue through vehicle licensing and tollgate fees. However, there have been long-standing complaints that the allocations are insufficient and often delayed. Moreover, the funds are disbursed in local currency, yet contractors demand payment in foreign currency, further complicating the situation.
Coltart emphasized that the heavy rains have worsened the already poor road infrastructure, adding to the city's challenges.
Collaborative Efforts
The mayor suggested that community collaboration could provide some relief in the short term. "We have to work together with our youths in terms of pothole patching so that motorists are able to move, hence reducing the occurrence of road accidents due to the sorry state of our roads," he said.
National Road Crisis
Bulawayo's road woes are part of a larger national problem. In 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Zimbabwe's roads a national disaster and launched the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Project. However, progress has been uneven, with many municipalities, including Bulawayo, still struggling to address their road maintenance needs.
As the city awaits further funding and support, residents and motorists continue to face challenges navigating Bulawayo's deteriorating road network.
The state of Bulawayo's roads has been described as dire, with potholes riddling the network and heavy rains exacerbating the damage. The local authority estimates that 70% of its road infrastructure has outlived its lifespan, making urgent repairs essential.
During a council meeting on Wednesday, Coltart admitted that the municipality is in a deep financial crisis and has been unable to undertake meaningful road works. He revealed that efforts to secure funding through engagements with the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) are ongoing.
"We recently had a meeting with Zinara, and it promised to disburse funds to purchase machinery and maintain the main roads within the city," Coltart said. "We have been failing to do road maintenance due to a financial crisis, as we are unable to purchase the machinery and some materials."
Funding Challenges
Coltart emphasized that the heavy rains have worsened the already poor road infrastructure, adding to the city's challenges.
Collaborative Efforts
The mayor suggested that community collaboration could provide some relief in the short term. "We have to work together with our youths in terms of pothole patching so that motorists are able to move, hence reducing the occurrence of road accidents due to the sorry state of our roads," he said.
National Road Crisis
Bulawayo's road woes are part of a larger national problem. In 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Zimbabwe's roads a national disaster and launched the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Project. However, progress has been uneven, with many municipalities, including Bulawayo, still struggling to address their road maintenance needs.
As the city awaits further funding and support, residents and motorists continue to face challenges navigating Bulawayo's deteriorating road network.
Source - newsday
