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Bulawayo Mayor Clr Martin Moyo (left), councillors, Town Clerk Middleton Nyoni (right) and some guests inspect the equipment acquired after its commissioning at the launch of the road rehabilitation programme in Gwabalanda, Bulawayo, yesterday.

Thubelihle Mabhena Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has purchased road rehabilitation equipment worth more than $1 million to improve the city’s road network. Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo commissioned the equipment in Gwabalanda suburb yesterday.

He said the local authority had budgeted about $5 million to rehabilitate 56 kilometres of the city’s roads this year.

According to the road condition survey carried out in 2012, more than $700 million is required to upgrade the network to international standards.

Clr Moyo encouraged residents to assist the city by continually paying their bills on time so that the council could fund capital projects like the road rehabilitation programme.

“The purchase of the plant by the city is a milestone in a bid to cater for its needs in road rehabilitation, reconstruction and servicing of stands,” he said.

“Today, we commission the delivery of one front end loader, two graders, two rollers, one dozer, one excavator and six plate compactors which cost $1,087,727.”

Clr Moyo said he was proud that the city had managed to purchase equipment that would assist council carry out its resealing programme to extend the life of its roads.

He said council was awaiting delivery of two vibratory rollers, six tipper trucks, four water bowsers and two compressors which cost the municipality $1,021, 727.

“This year’s road rehabilitation plan involves road construction, overlays, reseals and re-gravelling of 56 kilometres of the city’s roads on a $5,129,836 budget,” said Clr Moyo.

He said the local authority would cover 20 kilometres of reseals on roads that include Intemba, Jukwa, Siyephambili, 23rd Avenue, Huggins, Ngcebetsha, Vera, Old Falls, Ematsheni, Birkenhead, Cecil and Mpopoma Avenue.

“Ten kilometres of the city’s roads will be reconstructed which will cover Gwabalanda Drive, Wellington, Glenville Drive, Jungle, Mazwi, Ematsheni, Bliston, Coventry, Churchill, Market, Circular and Mbundane,” said Clr Moyo.

He said overlays would cover at least one kilometre on Luveve Road, Siyephambili, Airport and Hyde Park as well as re-gravelling 25 km of city roads.

Among the people who attended the event were the chairperson of the environmental management and engineering services committee, Norman Hlabani, Bulawayo town clerk Middleton Nyoni and the director of the engineering services, Simela Dube.