Binga roads remain a death trap despite frequent high powered visits, promises

Calvin Manika

Nathan Muzamba (54) has lived in Kamativi almost all his life. Despite having voted six times Muzamba laments that the situation in his area continues to deteriorate because, according to him, political heavy weights from Binga and Matabeleland North have forgotten their roots.

A common complaint against rural Members of Parliament (MPs) in the region has been that soon after being elected, they abandon the rural electorate for urban comforts in cities. Villagers in Lusulu said politicians in their area temporarily change residence in the run to elections.

“There is often a lot of dust all over the place as politicians remember us for their personal gain during this period. Unfortunately, the same roads they have neglected may become their death traps. Our roads have been neglected for too long and have become  dangerous. We have more accidents due to poor road network,” said Muzamba.

“The challenge is that, the top officials who include the president fly and do not see how bad the roads are. The ministers and other officials who use the road and are supposed to tell him do not. There is a crisis and everyone wants to pretend as if everything is okay,” said Chrispen Phiri of Kamativi settlement.

In 2022 President Mnangagwa visited Binga, one of the poorest districts in Zimbabwe on two occasions. His first visit was a campaign rally during the by-election. Despite the ruling party’s candidate losing in the elections President Mnangagwa returned to thank the BaTonga people and fulfill the electoral promises his party had made. The visits gave people hope especially on infrastructural development, roads being on top of villagers’ priorities. This year President Mnangagwa was in Binga gain for cultural day celebrations.

The maintenance of roads in Binga district would improve accessibility of people in the surrounding rural areas to primary health care, education, water and sustainable livelihood projects. Residents bemoan the poor road infrastructure which is closing them off from other districts and potential investment. Binga district is a haven of the fish industry and is also a promising tourism sector as it is rich in culture.

“Due to the state of our roads, potential businesses have shunned this place. This year, we need to elect politicians who are committed to development,” said Gordon Mutale, a Binga resident.

In 2022 eight people died while an unconfirmed number were injured after a vehicle  ironically belonging to the Ministry of Transport’s Department of Roads was involved in an accident along the Binga-Siabuwa road.The accident which happened near Nsungwale exposed poor service delivery in the Matabeleland North remote district both on poor roads and lack of a functioning mortuary then.

In 2022 President Mnangagwa launched the US$400 million ERRP2 which is a countrywide initiative meant to improve the country’s road network. The government allocated more than $700 million to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development for the rehabilitation of a 3 000km road network under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) Phase 2 in Matabeleland North.

Matabeleland North Roads Engineer Ncube said, the Ministry, through the Department of Roads, is working on 27 road projects in the province. The ongoing road projects involve pothole patching, grading, re-gravelling, spot dumping, wash away repairs, culverts construction, reseals and rehabilitation.

Ncube said 15 contractors had been contracted to carry out road works in the province.

“The Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is undertaking 27 projects in the province. The total length of the road network under the roads department in the province is 2 937km. This excludes those administered by local authorities and the District Development Fund (DDF). Work is going on several roads,” said Ncube.

The expected completion date for all of the projects was 30 November 2022. However, travelling to Binga and around Matabeleland North shows that roads are still impassable and the main highway Bulawayo – Victoria Falls is worsening with very little interventions. Last year, Chief Mabhikwa died in a road accident along Bulawayo – Victoria Falls road, exposing the failure of ERRP in the province to repair roads and meet deadlines. Last week two Insimbi Zezhwane band members died in an accident along the same road.

Hwange Central Member of Parliament Daniel Molokela said the major highway has become a death trap and it needs urgent attention.

“For the last two years, I have been personally following up the relevant Minister Hon. Mhona. We have also debated the matter in Parliament on several occasions. Last time, l spoke to the Hon. Minister he told me that Bitumen had recently submitted a feasibility report that was now awaiting Cabinet approval before proceeding to a tender process for a new road construction led by a private company investor in a Built to Transfer partnership with the government.,” said Molokela.

Bulawayo-Nkayi, Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road, Bulawayo-Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls-Kazungula and Cross Dete-Binga roads are key connectors to the province’s economic activities such as tourism, mining and others. The Bulawayo-Nkayi, Cross Dete-Binga and Bulawayo-Tsholotsho roads have become problem roads.

In March this year, another accident was recorded in the Chief Siabuwa area and five people reportedly died. The bus, which was heading towards Kariyangwe overturned and landed on its side killing two people on the spot and seriously injuring a number of other people.

The 81km Binga-Siabuwa road was recently graded and gravelled years after the targeted deadline.

“Surprisingly, politicians habitually talk about roads development in their manifestos during election campaign. We have heard these promises and recycled lies for years,” said Muzamba.

Passengers Association of Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Goliath said they were concerned by the rising road accidents on the country’s roads.

“We are concerned by the rate at which people are losing lives due to road traffic accidents and we urge drivers to value lives. We are with the families of those who perished in the accidents. May their departed souls rest in peace. To those who were injured, we wish them a quick recovery,” Goliath said.