Mat North roads construction at stand still

Some portions of road construction work along the Bulawayo – Tsholotsho and the Bulawayo – Nkayi roads have been at stand still after the laying of the water proofing surface owing to increased costs and the centralised procurement system that results in a snail pace of purchasing needed materials.

While revealing that road construction is a highly quality controlled process, Matabeleland North provincial roads engineer, Steven Kamutema, indicated that with every delay and the rains now imminent, millions of dollars worth of works already engaged in is at risk of being destroyed.

After concluding a tour of the concerned areas, the Minister of State for Matabeleland North province Honourable Richard Moyo, spoke on the need to decentralise the procurement process to avert loss of funds already injected and to speedily conclude national projects.

Only 5km and 7.7km respectively out of a targeted 10km each on the Bulawayo-Nkayi and Bulawayo-Tsholotsho roads have been laid with the water proofing material, notwithstanding the need to conclude the projects before the onset of the rains.