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Michael Magoronga, [email protected]

REHABILITATION works have started along Kwekwe-Silobela Road in the Midlands Province after the area legislator, Honourable Jonah Nyevera, mobilised US$5 000 to support the exercise.

The road had become un-trafficable  and the situation had been worsened by rains resulting in high costs of transportation for ordinary passengers and businesses.

In an interview, Hon Nyevera said he was compelled to source funding for the grading to improve smooth transportation. 

“We raised about US$5 000 for the gravelling and grading of the 40 kilometre stretch, which is badly damaged. But the total figure will depend on the progress made and if more works are needed, we will definitely use more funds,” he said.

“But for now that is the budget that we are working with. Most people are no longer using their vehicles to Kwekwe due to the nature of the road.”

Hon Nyevera said most of the funds will be channelled towards the hiring of equipment and fuel.

He said the intervention was a temporary measure as they wait for the Government to carry out comprehensive works, including tarring the road.

“We applied to the Ministry of Transport for the road to be constructed and they promised to do so. But as we await for the Government to come in, I thought we can’t wait while our people are having problems getting to their homesteads,” said Cde Nyevera. 

“So, this is a stop-gap measure, as we wait for the Government to move in.”

He said besides hurting businesses, the damaged road had also negatively impacted the social life of people in the area.

“Business has dwindled because no one wants to use the road. Businesspeople had resorted to hiring trucks to acquire their orders in Kwekwe and they were being charged exorbitantly. 

“Social life had also been dealt a blow because no team would want to travel to Silobela for social soccer due to the bad road,” said Cde Nyevera.

He said the road was critical to the country’s economy as it is the shortest link between Harare and Victoria Falls.

Apart from the major road, the legislator said he was also working on rehabilitating some connecting roads in and around Silobela constituency, working closely with stakeholders.

“We recently sourced an ambulance to service our area but due to the roads, it could not travel. We want the ambulance to service our local people without hindrance hence the need for the road,” he said. 

“Also, we need the borehole drilling machines to reach this part of the country but in most cases, they were hindered by the roads.”