This year the Zimbabwean National Road Administration (Zinara) is budgeting ZWD512 million for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the country’s ageing public roads.

A quarter of the total amount will be allocated specifically for routine maintenance such as grass-cutting, drain desilting and pothole patching, as reported by the Herald. Zinara will disburse ZWD143 million to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, ZWD92 million to the District Development Fund, and ZWD118 million to 60 rural councils and ZWD159 million to urban councils. Of the urban disbursement, ZWD52 million has been earmarked for the Harare City Council.

Zinara acting chief executive engineer Moses Chigonyati says the funds will cover routine, periodic and emergency maintenance, which includes the resurfacing of roads, resealing and re-gravelling. These funds will be paid directly to contractors employed in road rehabilitation. ‘Road authorities have to acquit those funds to get the next disbursement,’ he adds.

According to the World Food Programme’s latest Logistics Capacity Assessments, approximately 70% of the country’s regional and primary roads were built during the 1960s and early 1970s, and most now exceed their 20-year lifespans.

Paved roads account for just 34.4% of the country’s 97 257 km network (20.4% paved; 14% gravel), with unpaved roads making up 78 786 km (66%).

10 March 2020
Image: Gallo/Getty Images