Samuel Kadungure and Lovemore Kadzura
GOVERNMENT has launched a comprehensive rehabilitation programme to restore key rural roads in Manicaland that have deteriorated significantly, thereby improving connectivity and alleviating trafficability challenges.
The majority of these roads — known as Binya roads — had fallen into a state of disrepair, making navigation extremely difficult for motorists.
Riddled with numerous potholes, the roads were causing considerable damage to vehicles; leaving public transporters questioning the viability of using these rural roads.
Key rural roads currently undergoing rehabilitation, utilising cutting-edge technology to address pressing issues of land degradation and soil erosion, include Makoni, Odzi-Marange, Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge, Chipinge-Mount Selinda and Headlands-Chiendambuya. The Nyanga-Ruwangwe road is done.
The Headlands-Chiendambuya Road, which cuts across Headlands and Makoni North constituencies, leading to Mutoko and Nyanga districts, has been un-trafficable for years.
This has left motorists, especially public transport operators, counting heavy losses in repairing constantly damaged vehicles.
Most operators had withdrawn their vehicles from the route citing its bad state.
The few that chose to continue operating passed the burden to the commuting public by charging exorbitant fares.
The state of the road also made the easy-of-doing business extremely difficult as companies withdrew their delivery vans from the route.
Businesspeople from areas like Chiendambuya, Mayo, Maparura, and Chikore, among others, had lost door-to-door delivery services from bakeries, soft drinks and alcohol suppliers, among others.
The road was also a nightmare for ambulance drivers ferrying patients from local clinics to Rusape General Hospital. The road’s condition made it impossible to drive at emergency speeds.
Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer, Engineer Raphael Sigauke on Wednesday said five-kilometre stretches of Makoni Road, which traverses Odzi, Gandanzara and Nyabadza as well as the Odzi-Marange Road, up to Odzi from Riverside, will be upgraded to a tarred road, while the remaining sections will be gravelled.
Engineer Sigauke further said Government has allocated additional resources to facilitate the surfacing of 10 kilometres of the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge and Chipinge-Mount Selinda roads.
He said the ground-breaking ceremonies, marking the official handover of the sites to contractors were recently held, and some contractors have already commenced work on-site, while others are still mobilising the necessary equipment to begin their respective projects.
“Government has devised a comprehensive programme to upgrade and gravel several key rural roads in the province. Makoni Road will undergo five kilometres of upgrading, with the remainder being graded to enhance trafficability.
“Similarly, the Odzi-Marange Road will have 5km, from Riverside to Odzi Township upgraded, while the remainder of the road to Marange will be gravelled. Additionally, the Cashel-Chimanimani and Machongwe-Rusitu roads will be gravelled. Furthermore, 10km stretches of the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge and Chipinge-Mount Selinda roads will be upgraded,” said Engineer Sigauke.
Makoni South Member of the House of Assembly, Honourable Albert Nyakuedzwa said Makoni and Nzvimbe-Sharara roads, which traverse his constituency, were impassable due to neglect and lack of resources.
“These two critical roads had deteriorated to the point of being nearly impassable. It is commendable that Government has allocated resources for both upgrading and grading. This development will undoubtedly boost economic activities, improve the livelihoods of our people, and enhance connectivity within the constituency. The upgrading of these roads will also increase access to social services, such as healthcare and education, thereby improving the overall quality of life for our communities,” said Honourable Nyakuedzwa.
Mutare North legislator, Honourable Admire Mahachi also welcomed the upgrading of the 5km stretch leading to Odzi, saying it could not have come at a better time.
“These roads are more than just transportation routes – they are the lifeblood of the rural communities they serve. They connect farmers to markets, children to schools, the sick to hospitals, and businesses to suppliers. In Mutare North, where the mining sector is thriving, a well-maintained road network is crucial for the transportation of goods, equipment, and personnel. The upgrading of these roads will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the local economy and improve the overall quality of life for our constituents,” said Honourable Mahachi.
Headlands Constituency legislator, Honourable Farai Mapfumo said the road, despite its importance not only in the district but nationally, took long to be attended to.
He hailed the Second Republic for listening to pleas from him and his Makoni North counterpart, Honourable Joseph Muwombi for the road to be tarred.
“When Mwarazi Bridge outside Headlands Township was destroyed by floods recently, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Honourable Felix Mhona visited the site. We took the opportunity to highlight the importance of that road in the national road network,” said Honourable Mapfumo.
“Haulage trucks travelling from Forbes Border Post in Mutare to Nyamapanda Border Post via Harare can shorten their journey by 80km by passing through Headlands if the road is tarred. This will boost business in Headlands and Makoni North, establishing the area as a hub for development and trade. A well-maintained road facilitates business growth.
“The tarring of the road will enhance the ease of doing business in our communities. In my maiden Parliamentary speech, I raised concerns about this road. The people of Headlands are grateful to President Mnangagwa for responding to our plea. We are witnessing the realisation of the vision to leave no place behind,” he said.
ZANU PF Makoni North provincial member, Cde Edmore Madhume said the tarring of the road brings significant relief to the constituency, which had been rendered remote due to the poor road conditions.
“We are thrilled that the road is finally being tarred. The upgrade was long overdue, but people did not lose hope, and their persistence has not been in vain. Now, with improved accessibility, Chiendambuya Growth Point is poised for exponential growth.
“We anticipate the arrival of essential services like banks once the tarring is complete. The tarred road will transform the constituency’s landscape. Despite being rich in livestock, tobacco, maize, cotton, and traditional grains, the area’s potential has been stifled by the poor road network. Transporting people and goods has been a nightmare, but this will soon be a thing of the past with the advent of the tarred road,” said Cde Madhume.
Government has also urged rural district councils to adopt communal labour systems, while on the other hand the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has also established a fuel and equipment fund to respond quicker to rural road infrastructure requiring urgent rehabilitation.
More than 22 000 kilometres of roads were rehabilitated last year under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, which saw Government spending about ZiG24 billion under the initiative.
In 2022, 38 600km of road network were rehabilitated against a target of 47 200km.
The Ministry will acquire the latest technology for road rehabilitation to address issues of land degradation and soil erosion.
Last year, the Ministry embarked on nanoparticle technology research for rural gravel roads to maintain access to critical services during the rainy season.
Nanotechnology refers to the branch of science and engineering devoted to designing, producing and using structures, devices and systems by manipulating atoms and molecules at nanoscale, resulting in less porous roads that absorb less water than traditional gravel roads.
With nanoparticle technology, it will take at least four to five years before the roads require attention again.
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