Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo, has urged contractors working on the
to prioritise pothole patching within the stretches they have been allocated.
Moyo made the remarks during an ongoing media tour conducted by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to assess progress on the ongoing rehabilitation works.
Following the public outcry on the state of Bulawayo to Victoria Falls road, a total of eight contractors have been assigned different sections of the road, with some reporting challenges caused by the Kalahari sands prevalent in parts of Matabeleland North.
The minister toured only one section completed by a single contractor as he had to leave for Harare shortly after.
“I want to thank the contractors for the job they are doing in our Province but as I told you before, this road was in a bad state because of potholes and other challenges we have on it,” Moyo said.
“So what we want is if the contractor is doing his road or his section, he should also take note of doing pothole patching in his or her stretch.”
Moyo said there is a 45 km road which is vulnerable and needs pothole patching,“ that’s what we want.”
He, however, said some contractors are behind their schedule
“ Fossil told us that he would have completed his stretch by September next year but others are behind, they might finish their job maybe October or November because they are behind,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister urged the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) to intensify enforcement against overloaded trucks, which he said are contributing significantly to road damage.
“If we let them overload this beautiful road it will be bad again in a short space of time. We want VID to chip in and we have weigh bridges all over so that they don’t do that overloading system,” he said.
Moyo stressed the strategic importance of the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls Road, noting that key national resources, including lithium and electricity, come from Matabeleland North.
“If this road deteriorates, people won’t have access to electricity. Right now, Hwange Power Units Seven and Eight have been extended and there is access to electricity. Yes, there is still some load-shedding here and there, at times there will be faults, but we now have enough power,” he claimed.
Moyo added, “At the moment they are also upgrading from Unit One to Six and if all units are working, we won’t have electricity challenges in Matabeleland North.”
He said there are other investors who are now producing electricity in Hwange apart from ZESA.
“There are about three or four Chinese Companies who were given licenses by the President who are now putting electricity to the national grid, so this Bulawayo to Victoria Falls road is very important.”
Moyo also applauded the Ministry for rehabilitating Bulawayo to Nkayi Road.
“They also gave us two contractors, even for the Bulawayo to Nkayi to Kwekwe Road there is a contractor rehabilitating that road. They promised that next year, they will give us about two contractors for Bulawayo to Tsholotsho Road because this is where we now have a challenge,” he said.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Joy Makumbe also urged truckers to load with discipline.
“Let us not be selfish because this infrastructure is for everybody so when you load, let’s load with discipline, with the future in mind. Load the capacity ,which should be loaded,” she said.
“For your own information Cabinet has actually approved and is pushing that we should have weigh bridges on our roads, so VID will be out in full force. A truck that is overloaded is going to be fined, so don’t call the Minister saying , ‘ndasungwa’ let us be responsible, this is our infrastructure.”
Engineer Makumbe said VID was recently with vehicles adding that they are now mobile and in full force.