Govt Declares All Roads A State Of Disaster

The government this week declared all roads in Zimbabwe a state of disaster to enable resources to be mobilized to fix the roads which the government described as death traps, The Herald reports.

Speaking during a post-cabinet briefing, Infomation Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the government is working on facilitating the release of the resources for the rehabilitation of all roads:

Cabinet has resolved that all roads in the country be declared a State of Disaster. The declaration will facilitate the release of resources for the repair and rehabilitation of all roads that require such works.

The restorative works will cover all urban areas as well as the rural and trunk roads. It will also pave the way for the standardisation of quality under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. The necessary legal procedures to give effect to the declaration is being worked on.

ZINARA when contacted for comment through its spokesperson Tendai Mugabe said they collect the funds from motorists and hand it over to relevant authorities:

Our role is to fix road user fees and then collect those road user fees. After collection, we then disburse the funds to road authorities that are four, namely the Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Communication, the District Development Fund, and urban and rural councils.

Some areas are now inaccessible because of the incessant rains received during the ongoing 2020/2021 rain season which damaged the roads while some roads have been badly damaged by the rains with some bridges collapsing in some parts of the country.

More: The Herald