Chief Menyezwa, born Meluleki Gumede of the Dongamuzi area in Lupane, Matabeleland North, has written to the director in the Local Government ministry seeking urgent attention over a road that was severely damaged by recent rains.
In a letter dated January 29, Chief Menyezwa said the heavy rains left the road in a serious state of disrepair.
He said efforts to engage the Kusile Rural District Council (RDC) and the District Development Co-ordinator (DDC)'s office had yielded no response.
“I am Meluleki Gumede, Chief Menyezwa of Dongamuzi, Lupane West. My road was affected by a national rain disaster and was washed away by heavy rains on January 22,” he wrote.
“This is the road I use when travelling from Bulawayo to Lupane district and to the chief’s homestead.
“I have informed the Lupane DDC, the Ministry of Transport and council authorities, Kusile RDC, by sending pictures to the DDC, who is aware of the damage. To my surprise, none of them has attended the scene up to now.”
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Chief Menyezwa said he had reported the damage to the Transport ministry, but no action had been taken to date.
He requested the director of Local Government to grant him permission to escalate the matter to the Office of the President.
“The road is used by more than 1 000 households across Dongamuzi ward 1, from Lubimbi in Binga to Lusuku. I am a neglected chief within my jurisdiction in Lupane, as this road has not been maintained for 15 years. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated,” Chief Menyezwa wrote.
The director in the Local Government ministry had not responded to the letter until the time of writing.
Most of the country’s roads, especially in rural areas, are in a dilapidated state following years of neglect.
In 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the country’s roads a state of national disaster.