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Michael Magoronga, Business Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has asked Redcliff-based chemical producer, ZimChem Refineries and the Midlands State University (MSU) to find homegrown solutions to maintenance and rehabilitation of the country’s roads.

This comes as President Mnangagwa has declared the country’s roads a national disaster after the transport network was damaged by heavy rains that pounded the country during the 2020/2021 rain season.

Zimbabwe is importing bitumen, which is being used for road repairs.

The partnership between Zimchem and MSU seeks to locally produce tar thereby cutting costs by close to 50 percent.

Through its Chemical Technology Department, the MSU is working on using waste asbestos from Mashava-Zvishavane Mine to produce silicone which will then be mixed with coal tar at Zimchem plant to produce modified tar which will replace bitumen.

Zimchem plant needs to be refurbished first to enable it to produce the required chemicals. The Government has committed to seeing the plant being refurbished on time.

A senior Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development official, Mr Actor Zonde, who represented secretary Eng Theodiuos Chinyanga, said roads rehabilitation must ride on use of low-cost materials.

“The idea is to use local modified tar as we seek to resuscitate our roads using low cost and chip spread methods. The low-cost surfacing will reduce the forex import bill by more than 50 percent,” he said.

Bitumen is being imported from neighbouring South Africa at a cost of US$1,10 per litre.

MSU lecturer and executive director responsible for enterprises, Mr Alex Mkwembi explained the process.

“MSU through its Chemical Technology Department, embarked on a heritage-based project that will produce silicone using asbestos found at Mashaba Mine. This will be taken to ZimChem where it will be mixed with coal tar to produce the modified tar,” he said.

Mr Mkwembi said the modified tar besides being cheap, is stronger and resistant to high temperatures.

The Government is already assisting with setting up of the tar plant in Zvishavane.

ZimChem acting general manager, Mr Tendai Shoko, said the company needs to be refurbished so that it can produce the required chemicals.