Manicaland’s Road Maintenance Efforts Pay Off, But More Work Needed

By Shingirai Vambe

In a remarkable display of effective fund utilization, local authorities in Manicaland Province have excelled in road maintenance, according to the Zinara 2024 report. The report reveals that most councils received 100% of the proposed funds, which were specifically used for repairing roads or maintaining plants for road upkeep. Engineers from various councils confirmed that the money was used judiciously, with a focus on improving the province’s road network.

The National Roads Authority has praised Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces for their exceptional use of disbursed funds. Despite the limited budget, which wasn’t enough to fix all the roads, the effort marks a milestone achievement for struggling councils that rely heavily on ratepayers.

However, the current economic situation has hindered revenue collection across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces, resulting in substantial debts owed by ratepayers. Consequently, local authorities have struggled to deliver desired services. Motor vehicles continue to pay quarterly and annual road user fees, which Zinara uses to maintain revenue-generating roads.

Rural areas with extensive road networks face significant challenges, with many roads becoming impassable. This issue has sparked debates among policymakers, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, and the road authority. Zinara has demonstrated corporate governance in transparency and accountability of public funds, but more needs to be done to address the province’s road infrastructure challenges.

A Call for Increased Funding

As 2025 nears its midpoint, most councils have expressed concerns that their allocated budgets are insufficient for the expected workload. Zimbabwe’s road infrastructure faces severe challenges, with major roads requiring resurfacing. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Felix Mhona, acknowledged that the allocated budget for his ministry was inadequate to address the country’s road issues.

To address this, local authorities are focusing on patching and gravelling roads within their jurisdictions, while major projects are subcontracted to private players. The question remains whether this approach will be enough to tackle the province’s road infrastructure challenges.

Transparency and Accountability

Transparency International Zimbabwe recommends strengthening reporting mechanisms with councils and implementing systems to track work done by councils after receiving funds. This call for increased transparency and accountability is crucial in ensuring that public funds are utilized effectively.

The province continues to grapple with its road infrastructure challenges, more work and funds are needed address the issue. With Zinara’s commitment to transparency and accountability, there is hope that the province’s road network will improve in the years to come.

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