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Peter Matika, [email protected]

A total of ZWG11,6 billion will be disbursed to road authorities this year through the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) as the Government intensifies efforts to repair road infrastructure, which has been severely affected by incessant rains across the country.

The Government has already extended the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2) in response to the widespread damage to roads, which has seen some rural communities cut off due to the destruction of bridges. Commuter omnibus operators have also shunned certain routes in urban centres due to severe potholes and gullies.

Developing an efficient road transport system is a key economic enabler for logistics and a critical pillar under the National Development Strategy (NDS1), which aims to build momentum towards Vision 2030.

However, due to extensive damage to the country’s roads, some businesses are feeling the pinch of fleet repairs, resulting in high transportation costs, an inability to efficiently supply goods, and difficulties transporting people to their usual destinations, as well as adverse impacts on leisure activities.

While minimal pothole patching works are ongoing on critical portions, the ZWG11,6 billion Zinara disbursement plan is expected to cover significant ground in the rehabilitation of major roads, easing the burden on road authorities, who are expected to begin large-scale roadworks once the rainy season ends.

The disbursements will be made to major road authorities, including local authorities, the Department of Roads, and the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida), who will also benefit from an allocation of two million litres of fuel to enhance operations.

“Zinara has set aside a proposed budget of ZWG11,6 billion for financial disbursements for the year and will continue with the momentum to capacitate road authorities to draw down their annual budgets effectively,” said Zinara in a recent public report for 2024 issued over the weekend.

“Zinara has also made provisions for a further two million litres of fuel to add to the financial disbursements. Further to these disbursements, Zinara will continue to provide technical support through periodic refresher training as well as project support by the Zinara provincial engineers.”

With the receipt of the 2025 road maintenance plans and programmes of work from all 94 road authorities, the road authority said preparations were already underway for the first quarter disbursements to support these projects.
Looking back, Zinara noted that despite limited funding, the year 2024 saw significant progress towards achieving Vision 2030 in terms of road rehabilitation and maintenance.

According to the report, road authorities achieved 122 percent of their planned works, surpassing the initial national target of 30 000 km and reaching an impressive 37 000 km.

“This is compared to the prior year’s achievement of 23  000 km of roads maintained,” said the authority.
Some key projects undertaken in 2024 include part of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road rehabilitation project, the Nyanga-Ruwangwe Road resurfacing project, the Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe 42 km road rehabilitation, the Golden Valley-Sanyati road project, and the greater Harare roads projects, among others.

Zinara

The comprehensive support system is part of the road authority’s holistic approach to ensuring the success of infrastructure development initiatives nationwide.

Last year, Zinara reported that total disbursements closed at ZWG4,6 billion, driven by enhanced collections through improved revenue mechanisms and the increased project scope of special public interest projects, which required more funding.

The report stated that 53 out of the 94 road authorities utilised over 90 percent of their budgets, with 15 utilising 100 percent of their allocations. Mashonaland East Province, for instance, topped the leaderboard with 95 percent, followed by Matabeleland South Province at 92 percent, and Harare Metropolitan Province at 90 percent. Bulawayo Metropolitan used only 64 percent of their allocation, while Matabeleland North utilised 84 percent of their allocation.

“This is a remarkable new standard, which speaks to improved project implementation and acquittal systems by the road authorities. It’s also attributed to the enhanced support being rendered to road authorities through the Zinara provincial engineers, as well as the periodic training programmes facilitated by Zinara,” reads the report.

It also noted that more than 1,9 million litres of fuel was disbursed to all road authorities and that 20 of the road authorities successfully drew down their full allocations.

“The budgeted fuel for the year was two million litres. This initiative was well received by road authorities as it directly resolved a critical operational challenge they had been facing in terms of procuring fuel for their road maintenance activities,” said Zinara.

“With the fuel on hand, the road authorities were better equipped to use their equipment for some of the roadworks, and this went a long way to improving the scope of the maintenance works they were able to undertake.”

Commenting on the road rehabilitation issue, Bulawayo United Public Transport Association (Bupta) chairperson, Mr Morgan Msipa, expressed excitement over the disbursement schedule and urged Zinara to act swiftly to repair the country’s roads.

“It’s a good move. Our roads are in a dire and deplorable state. We are excited to hear that funds have been availed for this. It’s about time this is done as this has greatly affected our industry,” he said.

Bulawayo Bus Operators Association chairman, Mr Patrick Dube, who also operates Green Horse buses, shared similar sentiments, urging the road authority to be proactive as the country’s roads are in a poor state.

He said that as an association, the allocation of road funds is a welcome development at a time when businesses are already feeling the adverse impacts of the damaged terrain.

“We are required to maintain a timetable, but this is impossible due to the poor state of the roads. No bus can stick to the prescribed time because of the damage to the roads,” he said.
“Our vehicles are also getting damaged. If the funds have been availed, they should get to work quickly.”