Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is considering a major policy overhaul that would place all roads—urban, rural, trunk, and township—under its direct control. The proposal comes amid worsening road conditions and slow responses from the existing authorities.
Responding to Senator Kucaca Phulu during a Senate question-and-answer session last Thursday, Transport Minister Felix Mhona said the government is seeking support from both the National Assembly and the Senate for a plan to collapse the current structure and consolidate all roads under the Department of Roads.
Phulu had asked what coordination exists between the ministry and local authorities, particularly in Bulawayo, as they work to repair their roads.
Minister Mhona said the current arrangement, split among four road authorities (the Department of Roads, local authorities, Rural District Councils, and the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency), is no longer providing timely or effective service. He said:
“The design used to work, but over the past two decades our roads have dilapidated and are in a sorry state.
“At times, funds are disbursed to local authorities, but they may not have competent engineers, resulting in roads going unattended.”
He said some local authorities are producing “shoddy” road work because of skills gaps, leading Provincial Road Engineers to repeatedly flag poor workmanship.
Mhona added that placing all roads under a single authority would allow the Ministry to respond more quickly and reduce delays caused by the current fragmented system. He said:
“Instead of saying this road belongs to RIDA or the local authority, we want the mandate to rehabilitate roads through the Department of Roads.
“Even traffic lights and drainage systems fall under local authorities, but the public still expects the Minister of Transport to intervene…
“For the common good, it is ideal that the Department of Roads superintends over this, working with provincial and resident engineers.”
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