BY LWANDLE MTHUNZI
The Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) has allocated $3.2 billion for maintenance of roads in Matabeleland region between January and April this year.
Just over $700 million of this has been disbursed to local authorities, department of roads and Rural Infrastructure Development Agency.
Large parts of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway roa has been left exposed due to multiple potholes, none repairs and old age.
Nationally, Zinara allocated $41 billion to various roads authorities for maintenance of roads infrastructure countrywide, with over $11 billion disbursed between so far this year.
In a statement, Zinara said the disbursements and allocations are for the period January 2, 2023 to April 30, 2023.
Zinara allocated $899 million to the seven rural local authorities namely Binga, Bubi, Hwange, Kusile, Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza in Matabeleland North province, and $224 million has been disbursed in the first quarter.
Hwange Local Board which got $22 million against its allocation of $112 million, Lupane Local Board which has received $18 million against an allocation of $94 million and Victoria Falls City which was allocated $161 million and has received $57 million.
The province was allocated a total of $1, 2 billion for both urban and rural local authorities.
Bulawayo metropolitan province was allocated $817 million and $163 million has been disbursed.
Matabeleland South was allocated $1.1 billion and has received $303 million.
Beitbridge Rural District Council received $21,5 million, Bulilima $21,5 million, Gwanda Rural
The country’s road network is in a sorry state and various organisations have expressed concern about it, with tourism sector players saying this was affecting tourism.
Government programme the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP 2) which was launched three years ago is in its final year this year and critics have said little success has been recorded as many roads are hardly trafficable.