BCC frustrated over road rehabilitation funds

Nompilo Mathuthu

08.06.23

Bulawayo councillors have expressed concern over the lack of maintenance of roads in their respective wards saying the local authority should strategize on getting more funds since the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Program (ERRP) has failed to rehabilate several roads due to inadequate funds.

Councilor Donaldson Mabuto said the (ERRP) programme was implemented without adequate resources, resulting in its failure to follow through on the plans.

“It is, therefore, necessary to plan on how to get the resources. Nonetheless, with the minimum resources available, council authorities should work on roads for 1 or 2 wards. These small activities have a great impact on the residents,” said Mabutho.

Additionally, councilor Arnold Batirai said road maintenances had not been carried out as scheduled since 2018, citing ward 24 as an example of where nothing had happened.

“The department should report on the challenges encountered leading to the failure to achieve what had been planned and the solutions to the problems. The issue of the ERRP not remitting funds timeously should be taken seriously and dealt with effectively, ” said Batirai.

Meanwhil, the BCC director of engineering services, Sikhumbuzo Ncube, said they had difficulties with contractors as just one contractor was on site while other contractors had cancelled their contracts due to lack of funds.

“There is one contractor on site. Some contractors cancelled their contracts. Community groups are on hold due to a lack of materials and tools due to funding constraints. All the resources available were channelled to Luveve Road. The department has been working with the Procurement and Management Unit (PMU) to acquire material,” said Ncube.

This comes after government has told local authorities to wind up their ERRP projects as they will not be funded after year 2023 has ended.