Staff Reporter
The country’s 93 road authorities are set to benefit from the ZWL$17 billion which has been set aside by the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) for road rehabilitation.
The money is set to be disbursed in the next two weeks.
Addressing a press conference in Harare today, Zinara board Chairman, Dr George Manyaya said the authority was not responsible for the construction of new roads, but it merely collected funds and disburse them to road authorities for maintenance of existing road infrastructure.
Dr Manyaya said construction of new roads was done by Government through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
“Zinara is ready to disburse ZWL$17 billion in the next two weeks for road rehabilitation and it’s now up to the road authorities.
“We are not responsible for who the local authorities contract, but our main issue is to urge them to do quality work,” said Dr Manyaya.
This year’s budget allocation is a 79 percent increase from last year’s allocation of ZWL$ 9.5 billion.
ZINARA has set a collection target of ZWL$ 34 billion from road users through road fees.
For 2022, the Department of Roads headquarters will get ZWL$ 6.3 billion, District Development Fund (DDF) HQ ZWL$ 4.5 billion, Harare City Council ZWL$ 1.1 billion, Bulawayo City Council ZWL$ 338.2 million, Gweru City Council ZWL$ 193.2 million, Mutare Urban Council ZWL$ 163.5 million, Masvingo city council ZWL$ 122 million, Mashonaland East ZWL$ 519.7 million, Mashonaland West ZWL$ 741.5 million, Midlands ZWL$ 661.4 million, Masvingo province ZWL$ 361.2 million , Matabeleland North ZWL$ 524.6 million and Matabeleland South ZWL 495.1 million.
Dr Manyaya said the authority was in negotiations with potential financiers to boost its resources.
“Zinara is in talks with local banks that want to increase our budget and be able to give us facilities,” he said, adding that the authority has also taken measures to consolidate revenue inflows by installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at all traffic toll gates across the country.
“Once the ZWL$ 17 billion disbursements are done from the ZWL$ 34 billion collection target, Zinara will then channel the remainder towards payment of the US$ 206 million loan from DBSA that was used to construct the Plumtree-Mutare highway,” said Dr Manyaya.
Government allocated ZWL$ 43.9 billion towards roads development program from fiscal resources with ZWL$ 20 billion earmarked for the Harare-Beitbridge road.
Under government’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, local authorities are expected to focus on routine maintenance and re-gravelling.
