Calvin Manika
HWANGE Local Board (HLB) has begun rehabilitation of roads, starting with roads which were heavily damaged by the rains.
The project is aimed at improving accessibility and smooth movement of all road users. Many roads under the jurisdiction of the HLB are infested with potholes and others becoming partially impassable.
This comes after the government recently set aside $33, 6 billion for the second Phase of the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2) which was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central. The fund is committed to the rehabilitation of 10 000kms of the country’s roads.
Addressing delegates in Hwange yesterday during the resurfacing and pothole filling of Dingani Street in Nechibondo suburb, Matabeleland North Provincial Development Coordinator Sthabisiwe Ncube encouraged the HLB to prioritise their areas of road rehabilitation depending on the extent of the road damage.
“I want to emphasise on working for results. Let us work towards the rehabilitation of our roads and make sure that our roads are passable and all areas are accessible through a network of good roads. By the end of the program we would have achieved our vision. I want to thank you for the teamwork in the district,” said Ncube.
The HLB is facilitating the rehabilitation process the contractor ENFUND Construction Company has already started road patching and sealing on the selected streets.
The Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) was accompanied by Allen Wilson, a contractor with ENFUND Construction Company and Enock Masocha, the Matabeleland North ZINARA provincial engineer.
“The funds are available for the rehabilitation of the roads. But, what is needed is to apply for it in time, and then you work towards your projects. You must pay the workers in time to avoid bad output of work. That is very important,” said Masocha.
On February 9 2021 the government declared the state of all roads in the country a National Disaster, thereby giving impetus to the operationalisation of the ERRP.
