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Nqobile Tshili, [email protected] 

GOVERNMENT has engaged five contractors to resume the rehabilitation of key roads across the country as part of efforts by the Second Republic to modernise the country’s road network and improve accessibility. 

Major roads slated for rehabilitation include the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, and the Kwekwe-Lupane-Nkayi Road.

The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, a critical route for tourists and commercial transporters, has deteriorated significantly, turning long drives into nightmares for motorists. 

Developing sound road infrastructure is one of the critical enablers towards achieving set targets under the National Development Strategy (NDS1), the Government’s economic blueprint spanning 2021 to 2025.

The reconstruction of roads is an economic enabler and a driver towards attaining the Government’s Vision to achieve an upper-middle-income economy by 2030. 

Responding to questions during a Parliamentary question and answer session on Wednesday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, announced that work on various  road projects temporarily halted to prioritise Harare ahead of the recent SADC Summit, will resume next week.

He said the Government is targeting several roads in Matabeleland, extending in to the Midlands province, as priority projects.

 “There are about five contractors you will see on-site, and they will move quickly to cover the targeted kilometres. However, Harare-Chirundu is not the only important road, we have roads such as the Beitbridge-Victoria Falls Highway, covering a 700km stretch, which are among our main focuses,” said Minister Mhona.

“We are not going to be limited there, but we are also looking at Kwekwe-Lupane-Nkayi Road, and the 154 km from Bulawayo to Nkayi, which will be reconstructed.” 

The Minister further highlighted that some of these roads, including Harare-Chirundu Road, are vital links to regional neighbours like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Zambia, necessitating expedited rehabilitation.

 “We are indeed going to proceed with other roads like Harare-Chirundu Road. It is a major road, and for those who are acquainted with our borders, it is en route to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Zambia,” said Minister Mhona.

“So, as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, we have put this on our priority cards so that those roads can be constructed as quickly as possible.”

In line with ensuring high-quality work, Minister Mhona warned contractors that shoddy workmanship would not be tolerated. 

He said in the past, people got away with substandard jobs, but now the Government will ensure payment is made only after it is satisfied with the work. Minister Mhona said contractors who fail to deliver will be blacklisted.

“Yes, the Second Republic is indeed very different from the former where people would do shoddy jobs and be paid but this time if people do not do standard work, we pay only after we are satisfied that the job has been done,” he said.

“Section 298 talks about transparency and accountability. We go back to the people of Zimbabwe so that the money that they pump out does a good job. We blacklist for bad workmanship and if you are blacklisted, it means you will not get any contracts again.”

Minister Mhona said his ministry is working closely with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development to assess the works on the roads being reconstructed.

The Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2), initially established following President Mnangagwa’s declaration of a state of disaster over the country’s damaged road infrastructure, will continue until the end of 2026. The recent enactment of Statutory Instrument 151 of 2024 extends the Government’s authority to mobilise resources for emergency roadworks.

Statutory Instrument 151 of 2024 Civil Protection (Declaration of State of Disaster: Rural and Urban Areas of Zimbabwe) (Road Infrastructure Network) (Amendment) Notice, 2024 (No. 1) allowing the Government to continue implementing emergency road rehabilitation projects. 

 “Whereas His Excellency the President declared a state of disaster in connection with the excessive damage to the road infrastructure network, a state of disaster exists in all rural and urban areas in Zimbabwe, on February 23, 2021, by Statutory Instrument 47 of 2021; and whereas it has become necessary to extend the declaration of the said state of disaster for a further period to December 31, 2026,” reads the Statutory Instrument.

“Now therefore, His Excellency the President, in terms of the provision to section 27(2) of the Civil Protection Act (Chapter 10:06), by this declaration extends the operation of Statutory Instrument 47 of 2021 to December 31, 2026.”

—@nqotshili