Gov should review road funding mechanisms-Mutare TC

MARTIN MULEYA

CHIPINGE TIMES REPORTER

MUTARE-City of Mutare acting Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka has said the Government needs to review road funding mechanisms for councils as roads levy and Zinara disbursements are insufficient.

 Speaking at a residents and stakeholders feedback meeting held at Mutare Hall last Friday, Chafesuka said the city has US$812 000 from roads levy and the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (Zinara) disbursements that can rehabilitate a kilometre of the road network.

He said the 4.7 km stretch of the Sakubva Commuter road requires US$1.3m. The 750 m Simon Mazorodze road stretch needs US$1.2m for rehabilitation using Asphalt.

Chafesuka added that Zinara disbursed ZWL$170m translating to US$397 000.

“The City has a stretch of 547km of the road network with 311 km being surfaced roads while 263km are gravel roads. Last year we collected ZWL$ 138m from the roads levy translating to US$415 000, while Zinara disbursed ZWL$ 170 m, equivalent to US$397 000. So using these figures, the local authority had US$812 000 to rehabilitate roads for the year.

“Now, to imagine that we should do the 547km stretch of roads in the city, it means we are in a difficult situation as the council. There is a need at the national level to reconsider a formula of funding roads,” he said.

Chafesuka highlighted that the average road repair using tuck and seal per kilometre costs US$290 000 while constructing a new road with asphalt concrete per kilometre would need US$1.6 m.

He, however, said the council would continue with the recapitalization program, especially of plant and equipment required for road maintenance and rehabilitation.

Turning to the condemned Sakubva stadium, Chafesuka said the council has invested a lot and assured residents that they have not given up on renovating the stadium to meet the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) standards.

He said the stadium generated US$ 2.6 million for the council last year from the use of the stadium.

Chafesuka explained that renovating the stadium is capital intensive, and for now council needs to work on the drainage and turf, with the cheapest contractor to put the turf demanding US$1m upfront.