Garikai roads set for upgrade as Gwanda Municipality aims to ease access challenges
By Jonah B Moyo
The Municipality of Gwanda has announced that road rehabilitation in Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle suburb will be a top priority this year, as part of efforts to improve infrastructure and enhance accessibility for residents.
For years, residents of Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle suburb in Gwanda have navigated dusty tracks in the dry season and muddy, flooded roads during the rains, often walking long distances to town as public transport avoids the area.
Poor road infrastructure in the area has limited access to homes, businesses and Phakama Primary School, particularly during the rainy season when streams flood and become impassable.
The situation has not only inconvenienced residents but also affected school attendance and discouraged investment in the growing suburb.
Recognising these challenges, the Municipality of Gwanda (MoG) has announced plans to channel a significant portion of its anticipated Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) allocation towards improving the road network in Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle.
Speaking during the recent commissioning of a classroom block at Phakama Primary School, Gwanda Town Clerk Ms Priscillah Nkala said improving access roads and constructing bridges across streams would form part of the development strategy.
“Our roads in this area have been an inconvenience to residents and motorists. With the Zinara funds we expect to receive this year, we will prioritise improving road infrastructure in Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle,” said Nkala.
She added that addressing flooded stream crossings was critical to ensuring safe and reliable access to the school and surrounding homes.
“It is important that when we construct facilities such as schools, we also put in place supporting infrastructure that enables people to access them. As the school continues to grow, more learners and staff will need reliable access,” she said.
During the rainy season, some learners reportedly fail to attend classes when streams become flooded, while motorists are often forced to wait for water levels to subside or turn back altogether. Public transport operators have also been reluctant to service certain sections of the suburb due to vehicle damage risks.
Council officials indicated that equipment purchased last year using Zinara funds and municipal resources would support rehabilitation works not only in Garikai but across the town.
Nkala said the initiative aligns with the council’s “Call to Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery,” noting that improved road infrastructure is key to economic development and improved quality of life.
“The rains have caused severe damage to our roads, and we are addressing this as a matter of urgency. We are also working on more permanent solutions to reduce recurring repairs,” she said.
If successfully implemented, the planned upgrades could improve mobility, enhance school attendance, restore confidence among public transport operators and stimulate local economic activity in the suburb.
Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle Resident Kelvin Tlou welcomed the council’s commitment but urged swift implementation.
“We need council to act urgently because some areas are not accessible. Public transport operators refuse to come into certain parts, forcing residents to walk long distances. During the rainy season, learners sometimes fail to cross flooded streams and either return home or wait for hours,” he said.
Tlou added that vehicle owners incur frequent maintenance costs due to the condition of the roads.
For residents of Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle, reliable roads would mean more than convenience — they would signal inclusion in the town’s development trajectory and improved access to opportunity.
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