Harare – Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has appealed to Parliament to prioritise increased funding for road rehabilitation, warning that the nation’s vast road network requires a complete overhaul after decades of neglect.

Presenting a ministerial statement in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Mhona highlighted the dire state of Zimbabwe’s roads, noting that some infrastructure has not been rehabilitated since their initial construction over 40 years ago.

“This question gives me the opportunity to explain to the whole of Zimbabwe,” Mhona said in response to a query from Chivi South legislator Felix Maburutse. “When we are speaking of the issue of our roads, we know that our roads have not been rehabilitated for many years. Some were not rehabilitated for more than 40 years since they were initially constructed, which means we are looking as way back as 1960.”

The Minister outlined the scale of the challenge, revealing that Zimbabwe manages approximately 90,000 kilometres of roads. He conceded that due to the extensive network and the advanced state of deterioration, many roads now require a “complete overhaul” and reconstruction rather than simple patching.

Mhona pointed to fiscal constraints as a major hurdle, contrasting Zimbabwe’s situation with other nations that secure credit facilities from international lenders. “For us to rehabilitate all roads at once, it is difficult because we do not have enough money,” he stated. “Some of the countries get credits from international organisations like World Bank and IMF but as Zimbabwe, we rely on our finances.”

Emphasising that piecemeal repairs are no longer sustainable, Mhona made a direct plea to lawmakers to reconsider national spending priorities to secure the necessary resources for the transport sector.

“Therefore, I am pleading with this august House, when we are allocating a budget in this country, we must make sure that we allocate more funds for the road rehabilitation,” he implored.

The Minister also outlined his ministry’s strategy to address immediate maintenance issues through the resuscitation of provincial maintenance units. He noted that while new roads are designed for a 20-year lifespan with resurfacing every five years, the existing degraded infrastructure requires constant attention to prevent hazards like potholes.

“As we speak, the Government is resuscitating the maintenance units in all provinces,” Mhona said. “When we have a pothole, the maintenance unit must address that issue.”

He encouraged citizens and lawmakers to engage directly with local engineering departments for assistance with road-related challenges rather than waiting for parliamentary sessions.