Contractors Doing Shoddy Road Rehabilitation Work

Contractors doing shoddy work road rehabilitation according to a statement by road administrator ZINARA.

The road authority went on to condemn local authorities for shoddy work on some road rehabilitation projects that were undertaken using funds disbursed by ZINARA.

In a statement, ZINARA also chided local authorities for overcommitting or signing contracts that are way above the resources allocated. ZINARA said:

“Another area of concern noted by ZINARA in 2022 was the low quality of work by some local authorities.

There is a need for local authorities contractors to ensure sustainable quality work because the resources that ZINARA has are limited compared to the work that needs to be done on our roads. Analysis of the 2022 disbursement statistical data, ZINARA noted that some local authorities overcommitted and entered contracts that were way above their allocations.

Going forward, ZINARA urges the local authorities to budget within their allocations and ensure timely acquittals of disbursed funds. This is prudentially important in terms of value preservation of their allocated funds.”

ZINARA has unveiled ZWL$93 billion towards road rehabilitation and maintenance this year while over ZWL$30 billion was disbursed to local authorities last year.

According to the latest funding disbursement report issued by ZINARA on Sunday, 22 January 2023, Harare Metropolitan Province received the highest funding of $1.73 billion in 2022.

Matabeleland region, which includes Bulawayo and sister provinces of Matabeleland North and South, got a combined total of $1.24 billion. Matabeleland North Province received $422.9 million, with Victoria Falls receiving the highest amount of $120.8 million for road rehabilitation and maintenance under the urban councils’ category in the province.

Umguza Rural District Council got the lion’s share among rural local authorities in Mat’ North Province. It received $70.9 million.