Calvin Manika
THE government has hailed progress on the ongoing rehabilitation of damaged roads in the coal mining town of Hwange.
Speaking during a tour of Lukosi – Luseche road which is currently being attended to, minister of Energy and Power Development Zhemu Soda was excited at the rate at which the rehabilitation process was taking.
“The abnormal heavy rainfall that characterised the 2020/21 agricultural season, it took immense toll on our bridges, roads and other infrastructure. Roads were declared a national disaster. Responding to the damages, government is now attending to the roads nationwide through the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme,” said Soda.
The upgrading and expansion of the Luseche- Lukosi which starts at St Mary’s was long overdue as the road was fast becoming impassable and giving hard time to drivers.
The Lukosi-Luseche road which is overseen by the District Development Fund (DDF) had been neglected for the past 38 years.
Upon its completion, it shall improve accessibility of people in the surrounding rural areas to primary health care, education, water and sustainable livelihood projects.
Soda told the delegates that the government intends to achieve an upper middle income economy by 2030.
“In line with vision 2030, sound infrastructure is an essential building block for sustainable economic development and growth. It is with brick upon brick and stone upon stone, we are rebuilding Hwange and our great country,” said Soda.
Matabeleland North Provincial engineer Steven Kamutema said the rehabilitation programme is a reflection of the Second Republic unwavering commitment in transforming rural communities.
In April, government launched the Second Phase of the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2) with $33, 6 billion being set aside for the programme. This was after President Emmerson Mnangagwa had declared the road damages as a national disaster.
