MP bemoans sorry state of rural roads

Zanu (PF) Member of Parliament for Marondera East, Jeremiah Chiwetu, has bemoaned the state of rural roads, saying they need urgent attention. Chiwetu, who beat MDC-T candidate Tracy Mutinhiri at the disputed July 31 election, said to make life easy for rural road users all dilapidated roads in his constituency would be attended to urgently.

Neglected Marondera-Devedzo road.
Neglected Marondera-Devedzo road.

“I have forwarded requests to the Ministry of Transport and other responsible authorities to have three feeder roads in my constituency repaired,” he said.

The roads are the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport, District Development Fund and the Marondera Rural District Council. Chiwetu expressed hope that they would be repaired soon, as MRDC had acquired road maintenance equipment such as earth moving graders.

The former top cop-cum-politician appreciated the role of the media in development, saying “I hope as media, you will continue engaging law and policy makers regarding developmental issues. The media and other stakeholders work for development,” acknowledged Chiwetu. Villagers in Chief Svosve area blamed previous Zanu (PF) governments and the GNU for neglecting the roads, and gave Chiwetu the benefit of the doubt given his spirited campaign promises.

Former MDC-T Marondera East Councillor for Ward 19 and party District Chairperson, Samuel Machekanyanga said he hoped that DDF, MRDC and Ministry of Transport would join forces with Chiwetu in the constituency development project.

Marondera East is a diversified farming constituency with thousands of villagers and commercial farmers relying on road transport to access markets for their produce in Marondera, Harare and other cities.

Zinara which collects revenue from vehicle licensing, tollgates and fuel levies has since stopped direct cash disbursements for road maintenance to local authorities, citing misappropriation and diverting of funds elsewhere. Marondera is among seven local authorities blacklisted by the national roads authority for allegedly abusing allocated road maintenance funds.

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