By Donald Nyarota.
MUTARE, Zimbabwe.(News of The South)- Church leaders have appealed to provincial custodians to intervene over what they term shambolic workmanship in the ongoing road rehabilitation exercise
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Appealing to Minister of State for provincial affairs Cde Mandi Chimene in a closed door meeting, church leaders said taxpayers were being shortchanged by financing such poor work which was not up to standard.
They said of particular concern was the portion from Christmas pass to the central business district in Mutare where potholes and road wear was already visible just months after completion of rehabilitation.
Bishop Trevor Manhanga of Victory Tabernacle said taxpayers deserved better workmanship which reflects the millions being pumped into the national multi-million dollar road rehabilitation project.
“The issue of the road from Christmas pass is an area of concern for us because we can’t be paying taxes to see such shambolic workmanship we deserve better and Cde minister we are asking through your office that we can’t have potholes in less than two months,” he said.
Cde Chimene in turn said this issue was also of major concern to her as she was not a leader who accepts mediocrity, promising the clergymen that she would deal with issue with speed.
“Those of you who know me know that I don’t accept such a lousy job and I will deal with this issue very soon.
“I won’t let them get away with such a lousy job,” she said.
The national multi-million dollar project is being managed by Group Five International, a subsidiary of Group Five Construction.
The project entails the upgrading of three artery roads- Plumtree to Harare and Harare to Mutare along with new tolling plazas, which would also be constructed to replace existing tollgates, which have been officially declared temporary structures.
Making a presentation to a Parliamentary portfolio committee on transport and infrastructure last year Group Five projects director Ham Coetzee said of the total 823 km to be covered nationally, 150km will be rehabilitated, 250km will undergo shoulder widening and 423km will be resurfaced at a cost of US$250 000 per kilometer while toll plazas cost 3 million each.
Group Five was contracted by government through Infralink to carry out the road rehabilitation project and the toll plaza project under US$206 million loan secured from the Development Bank of Southern Africa DBSA by Infralink.
Infralink is a 70/30% joint venture company between the Zimbabwe National Road Administration Zinara and Group Five, in Zinara is the major shareholder.
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