Communities in rural and peri-urban areas across Zimbabwe have been cut off from essential services after heavy rains damaged roads and bridges, prompting renewed calls in Parliament for urgent government intervention.
Senator Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa, from Matabeleland South, raised the concerns during a recent sitting of the Senate, warning that already fragile infrastructure had deteriorated further, leaving some communities isolated from schools, clinics and markets.
“In light of the ongoing rains, which have once again exposed the poor state of our roads and bridges infrastructure, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, where communities have been cut off from schools, clinics and markets, can the minister inform this House what immediate and short-term measures the Government is implementing?” she asked.
She also sought clarity on how preparedness for seasonal rains is being integrated into road design, maintenance and budgeting.
Responding, the Minister of Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, acknowledged that the rains had caused widespread damage and said the government was relying on the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme II (ERRP2) as a key intervention.
He told senators that the programme, introduced through Statutory Instrument 47 of 2021 and extended to December 31, 2026, was designed to address roads in a “sorry state”.
“Yes, we thank the Almighty for the rains but, in terms of our infrastructure, it has been damaged,” Mhona said.
He said most rural roads fall under Rural District Councils or the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (formerly the District Development Fund), while urban roads are managed by local authorities.
Mhona said the ministry was adopting a “holistic approach” to road rehabilitation and would soon commission two asphalt plants, one in Harare and another in Bulawayo, to speed up pothole patching and maintenance.
“In two weeks’ time we are going to be commissioning an asphalt plant. The asphalt plant provides bituminous products so we can address road pothole patching quickly,” he said.
He added that the ministry was working with local authorities to make roads trafficable and was assisting councils with fuel so they could draw on the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) Fund to operate their plants.
Mhona said ZINARA was also supporting councils to procure additional equipment, while communities were being encouraged to partner with government in maintaining roads.
“Our road network stretches close to 90 000 kilometres and there is no way we can administer those roads at once. Therefore, I call on the people of Zimbabwe to exercise patience,” he said.
However, Senator Mlotshwa pressed the minister on how many roads and bridges nationwide had been rendered impassable by the rains.
Minister Mhona said he could not immediately provide precise figures and requested that the question be submitted in writing so that a detailed response could be prepared.
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