Gweru City Council has resuscitated its solar traffic lights project, almost a year after the it was stalled, as the Chinese contractor pulled out over unpaid dues.
by Stephen Chadenga
Last year, then acting director of engineering services, Praymore Mhlanga revealed that the Chinese contractor had pulled out of the project after council failed to pay $46 000 owed to him.
The chairperson of the caretaker commission running council affairs, Tsunga Mhangami, recently said the project was aimed at improving motorists’ and pedestrians’ safety.
“Work is in progress on the solar traffic lights to be installed in the city. We want to make sure that our roads are safe for both motorists and pedestrians,” he said.
The project, launched in October 2013, has seen the city managing to instal solar-powered traffic lights at only four out of the 16 intersections in the Midlands capital.
The project is expected to cost about $500 000.
