THE state of the road network in Matabeleland has seriously deteriorated since the rains started falling, putting motorists at risk.
The developments come at a time when Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda recently called for an increase in tollgates in Matabeleland North to raise money for the government.
In a statement, opposition Freedom Alliance chairperson Mqondisi Ndebele said the onset of the rains had worsened the state of roads in Matabeleland.
“Since we are also getting into a festive season that has lots of travelling including crossing borders, there are many risks particularly road accidents associated with this festive season. I am not blaming the rains for the high number of accidents but the state of our roads,” Ndebele said.
“Those crossing borders to be home are particularly at high risk. Many drive very long distances from, either, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Eswatini, South Africa or even further.
“Apart from sheer exhaustion there is a problem when one has been driving on a properly maintained highway and switches to the hazardous roads in Nkayi, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Kezi or Sogwala just to mention a few.”
He said many people coming from South Africa via the Beitbridge Border Post would understand.
“When the border post was rebuilt as state-of-the-art, many travellers believed that it was a one-stop border facility. It would decongest the border and release travellers timely to reach their destinations. But even within this border you move through five, six or seven places just to be cleared,” Ndebele said.
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“On leaving the border just after the roundabout you often find police roadblocks asking for the same documents processed at the border post.”
He also called for the repair of roads and bridges.
“The Tshangane Bridge has no rails and is unsafe while that of Gwelo is broken. The Nkayi road, Tsholotsho roads, Kezi roads, Brunaberg roads and bridges are in bad shape,” Ndebele said.
“We continue to condemn administrative inefficiency coupled with corruption which motivates endless roadblocks and unnecessary delays for travellers.”
Bulawayo-based development practitioner Thembelani Dube attributed the poor road network to the questionable workmanship of the contractors engaged, pointing out lack of due diligence, monitoring and evaluation by those who engage them.
“The motoring public bears the brunt as their vehicles' suspensions are constantly damaged and the commuting public consistently delayed,” he said.
Mthwakazi Republic Party president Mqondisi Moyo bemoaned the increased roadblocks, targeting residents returning from South Africa.
“Stopping every car, bus, truck and traveller is not maintaining order. Forcing people to return hundreds of kilometres to declare possessions is not procedure,” he said.
“Confiscating household goods and foodstuffs is not ‘revenue collection’. Checking Zimbabwean citizens’ passports inland is not border control. It is State-sanctioned harassment, intimidation and oppression.
“Large-scale commercial transporters face little scrutiny. Meanwhile, impoverished families bringing small, essential items from South Africa are punished, humiliated, and deprived of their survival goods. This is not administration. This is systemic economic and political oppression.”
