The Senate has raised concern over the poor state of major roads connecting key districts across Matabeleland and Midlands provinces, with legislators urging the government to expedite rehabilitation work that has slowed down travel and affected mobility.
During recent sittings, Senator Ritta Ndlovu questioned Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona about the progress of ongoing road rehabilitation projects, particularly along the Kwekwe-Nkayi, Bulawayo-Tsholotsho and Dete-Binga routes.
Ndlovu, however, commended government efforts visible on some stretches of the roads but expressed concern over the continued deterioration of key road networks.
“I remember the minister promised us that there were roads that had rehabilitation process. These roads are Kwekwe to Nkayi and others,” she said.
“Last week I used these roads and it is as if you are in a dream, travelling along those roads. Can the minister tell us what is happening on those roads?”
Ndlovu said travelling in some parts of the country had become extremely difficult, adding that it took between seven and 10 hours to reach certain destinations such as Binga and Silobela.
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She asked: “Minister, how far have you gone in repairing those roads?”
In response, Mhona acknowledged the poor state of the country’s road network, citing a combination of factors affecting infrastructure development.
He said the government had completed procurement processes for several road projects and assured the House that large-scale rehabilitation work will commence soon, particularly after the rainy season.
“I want to assure the august House that we have done the procurement process for most of those roads… we are just waiting for the rains to stop and very soon, the Senator will see massive rehabilitation programmes taking place,” Mhona said.
He said rehabilitation work would cover major routes across Matabeleland North and South, including the strategic Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane Road, which significantly shortened travel distance to Victoria Falls.
Mhona further revealed that work had begun in phases, with initial rehabilitation expected to open sections of the road from Lupane towards Nkayi and Silobela.
“These are massive road rehabilitation programmes taking place,” he said, adding that the government required public patience given the extensive national road network under repair.
“There is no way we can attend to all roads at one time. We have a huge network of roads, so it calls for patience,” he said.