RTGS$36 million For Chipinge Road Rehabilitation.

By Livingstone Mtetwa

CHIPINGE- Chipinge Town Council has received Rtgs$3,8 million from the Rtgs$36 million District allocation by the government, set to be used under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP).

In a phonecall intervew, acting Chipinge Town Secretary, James Mutemera confirmed Chipinge Town Council as to having recieved the road rehabilitation government funds.

“The government has allocated Rtgs$36 million to Chipinge District for the ERRP programme but as Chipinge Town Council we have recieved $3,8 million to which i can confirm and work is already underway,” said Mutemera.

“The funds will be channelled towards the rehabilitation of the CBD road thus the Glow Petroleum to GMB Road ($3.8m) to which council will work on in patnership with Earthgrade, the Chinheya-Gaza E Road ($17m) and the Thiba-Bundu Road ($15.2m),” said Mutemera.

“The Thiba-Bundu Road will be worked on by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, while Butimen Resources and Earthgrade will work on the other two roads with the main idea of pothole patching, shoulder widening, culvert construction and resealing,” said Mutemera.

Mutemera went on to note that, for the the Chinheya-Gaza E Road project, council is targeting to rehabilitate a total 1.2km stretch at a cost of $17m.

“On this project, we will embark on a massive drainage campaign, lining, gravelling and culvert construction.

“We had engaged a local construction company, Super Power, but it failed to show up due to other commitments and we opted for the first bidder, Earthgrade, which was competitive.

“The remaining money will be allocated to the Thiba- Bundu Road which will be done by Butimen,” said Mutemeri.

Meanwhile, Chipinge Town Council also received Rtgs$5.2 million under the devolution of funds initiative.

According to Mutemeri the local authority has lined up Gaza A and Usanga Water Reticulation, acquiring a road compactor, water bowser, skip bin truck and skip bins.

The funds are also set to be used for constructing the Usanga water reservoir tank as well as a three-classroom block at St Kelvin Secondary School.