by Nobleman Runyanga
The residents of Harare have hailed Government’s ongoing Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) which has seen a number of roads being repaired and resurfaced. This came out of a snap survey conducted by the Harare Post in the capital this week.
ERRP is a Government programme which was mooted to rehabilitate the country’s road network that was damaged following the 2016 /2017 rainy season.
“Over the years the City of Harare management has failed to maintain our roads and Government had to intervene. The same political party which oversaw the dilapidation of our infrastructure is set to dominate the council again and I’m not happy about that,” said Samuel Kandengwa of Tynwald.
“I am very happy with the road works in various parts of the city and am grateful to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration. Before the new dispensation both Government and the municipality complained of financial resource scarcity but in just nine months of President Mnangagwa’s tenure we have already seen a whole world of difference. Now that he has a fresh mandate from the people, we expect even greater and more exciting developments,” said an elated Chisipite resident, Florence Rakandwa.
Harare residents are particularly happy with the quality of workmanship on the resurfaced roads.
“In past road maintenance meant municipality road gangs patching potholes with either bitumen or gravel, but with Government’s intervention we are witnessing world class workmanship which is being provided by professional contractors such as Bitumen World and Fossil Contracting among others. The companies’ work ethic is totally different from the municipal gangs which start each working day with sitting down for a sadza meal,” commented Samson Chiwororo of Greendale.
The residents also expressed their wish for the programme to be extended to their suburban streets most of which are now in a state of disrepair following years of neglect.
“As residents we appreciate that Government does not have resources, but we would appreciate it if it extends the programme to cover all our suburban streets, which have been reduced to safari tracks due to the municipality’s casual attitude to road maintenance. The suburban street programme could be carried out in phases in order to restore Harare to its original status as a modern African city,” said Pauline Shamu of Westgate Area D in Bluff Hill.
Under ERRP, Government has covered hundreds of kilometres of the city’s over 2000 km road network. The programme has seen over 4 000 people being employed and 267 local companies being contracted to supply materials nationally.
