By Sofia Mapuranga

Binga North legislator Fanuel Cumanzala has lamented the deplorable state of the roads in his constituency despite the second republic’s promises that the roads will be rehabilated.

Cumanzala said the poor state of the roads confirms marginalisation and neglect by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, a trend which started during the colonial era and has continued under the leadership of both the first and second republics.

“Binga district has been neglected in terms of infrastructure development before and after independence. There is urgent need to rehabilitate Binga road, including tarring of the Karoi Binga road so that the people of Binga can forget the memories of marginalisation and neglect of the area as symbolized by poor road network,” said Cumanzala.

Although the turn off from Cross Dete to Binga road was tarred after independence of Zimbabwe, the road is turning into a dust road and has become a danger to motorists besides alienating the district from potential investors and transport operators.

“Karoi Binga road has remained largely an impassable dust road and this situation systematically cuts off Binga District from large markets in Bulawayo and Harare.

As a result of the poor condition of these key roads, the area is being shunned by big businesses or potential investors, including transport operators,” said Cumanzala.

He said the poor state of the roads in Binga discourages tourism in an area endowed with scenic views such as sand beach, hot springs, fishing, crocodile farm, game reserves, and the rich Tonga Culture to mention a few.

“It is urgent to rehabilitate all the key Binga Road, including tarring of the Karoi Binga road so that the people of Binga can forget the memories of marginalisation and neglect of the area as symbolized by poor road network,” he added.

Cumanzala is on record calling for the rehabilitation of roads in Binga.

In April 2024, he asked the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to explain to parliament why the Binga Karoi Road had stalled given the salience of the road in boosting access to tourism facilities and outside markets by the people of the Zambezi Valley.

Deputy minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joshua Sacco acknowledged the importance of Karoi-Binga Road for both local communities as well as the economic activities including tourism.

He told the house that government was committed to the continued upgrading and construction of the road from gravel to an all-weather standard surface.

“Under the Second Republic, works on the Karoi-Binga Road resumed in 2019 with construction of 10 kilometres completed from the 50-kilometre peg to 60 kilometre peg in Zvipane Business Centre. The newly constructed road section was completed in 2020 and is open to traffic,” said Sacco.

He further revealed that his ministry had flighted a tender for the rehabilitation of an additional 30 kilometres in Mashonaland West, with already one contractor awarded 10 kilometres. The tenders for the other two remaining lots of 10 kilometres each are now at an advanced stage of finalisation.

“Similarly, ten kilometres were recently completed in 2023 from zero kilometre peg to ten-kilometre peg on the Binga-Bumi Road section in Matabeleland North Province,” said Sacco.

He however told the house that while government was progressing with upgrading the road under direct funding from Treasury, options for private sector participation were also being pursued.

“A proposal for loan financing is being considered. The Second Republic is known for giving promises and keeping those promises. As you yourself have said, it is a political game changer. Therefore, that road is important for us as government.”