Bulawayo City Council has been urged to expedite the completion of the road rehabilitation works along Luveve Road, with councillors raising fears that the congestion may lead to accidents during the rainy season.
The city fathers deliberated on the matter during the latest full council meeting, noting that the congestion on the road may worsen once the rains intensify.
The road was partially closed in January when BCC embarked on a rehabilitation project to patch potholes and do other works comprising localized pavement reconstruction, overlays, reinstating of carriageway markings, drainage and other general maintenance works.
The rehabilitation works, which cover the stretch between Waverly Street and Intemba Drive, were meant to be completed by May 31, 2023.
“There are road works that are being done on Luveve Road and the state of the project currently is not anywhere near completion. We are headed towards the rainy season and if no alternative solution is found, we are bound to have accidents there,” said PR Cllr Melisa Mabeza.
Bulawayo Mayor, Cllr David Coltart, concurred that Luveve Road is a danger to motorists. He reiterated that the state of the roads in the city was deplorable and he urged councillors to compile lists of roads that need attention in their wards and submit them to the engineering committee.
“That portion along Luveve Road needs to be made the number one priority. The rainy season is upon us and like the councillors rightly pointed out, there could be serious loss of life,” Cllr Coltart said.
“Most roads in our city are in a dire state. If we just stand up in this meeting and name the affected roads we will not have done much justice to the gravity of the matter. I would encourage all councillors to come up with lists of affected roads in their wards that need attention and give them to the chairperson of the committee. That way all the roads will be given the attention they deserve.”
Ward 8 Cllr Edwin Ndlovu implored the council to fix roads going to cemeteries, citing that residents now require big motor vehicles when going to bury their loved ones.
“The roads to the cemeteries are bad Your Worship. Especially the one going to Luveve Cemetery. Residents now have to look for bigger vehicles when going to bury their loved ones. It is almost impossible for small cars to make it to the cemeteries,” he said.
