The City of Gweru will resume installing solar-powered traffic lights after receiving $117 000 from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara), city engineer Praymore Mhlanga has said.
By Stephen Chadenga
The solar traffic lights project stalled after council failed to pay the contractor $46 000.
Since October 2013, the city only managed to install solar-powered traffic lights at four out of the targeted 16 intersections in the city.
Mhlanga said Zinara had promised to settle the debt to enable the project to be completed.
“We received $117 000 from Zinara for this quarter and part of that money will be used in resuming the solar traffic project,” Mhlanga said. “The remainder of that money will be used in the rehabilitation of roads in the city since most of our commuter roads are in bad shape.”
The project, which is expected to cost a total of $500 000, was expected to reduce accidents caused by malfunctioning traffic lights affected by regular power cuts.
Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi said there was need for an audited report on how the Zinara funds were utilised, adding that it was proper that part of the money be used for rehabilitating roads.
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