Bulawayo Mayor calls for change in policy regarding car licence fees to rehabilitate deteriorating road network
Bulawayo Mayor, David Coltart, raised concerns over the terrible state of the city’s roads and called for a change in policy regarding car licence fees.
In an interview with him after selection of his Deputy, Coltart highlighted the need for the city to benefit from these fees, as they had in the past, in order to rehabilitate and maintain the deteriorating road network.
“Our citizens are paying a vast amount of money to ZINARA, and we are getting a fraction of that money back for the rehabilitation of roads,” Coltart lamented.
According to Coltart, the city currently receives a fraction of the car licence fees collected, with the majority of the funds being directed to the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINWA).
Infrastructure Budget
“This year so far we have had, I think the figure is US$600 000, we need a minimum of US$15 million just to maintain our roads and that is the fundamental problem regarding potholes in roads in general.”
Coltart blamed this difference as the root cause of the increasing number of potholes plaguing the city’s roads.
He stressed that until this allocation of funds changes, the city will continue to face a severe deficit in addressing the deteriorating road infrastructure, and the problem of road collapse will persist.
Coltart urged for a change in policy, acknowledging that the decision lies beyond the powers of the city council.
“It’s a policy implemented by the central government,” he noted.
The mayor emphasised the urgent need for the government to prioritise the well-being and safety of its citizens by reallocating a significant portion of the car licence fees to the city council for road rehabilitation purposes.
Dire State of Bulawayo
The dire state of Bulawayo’s roads has become a growing concern for both residents and local authorities. The number of potholes has increased significantly, causing damage to vehicles and endangering the safety of motorists.
Residents have been complaining about the state of road networks in Bulawayo while heavily burdened by the high car licence fees imposed by ZINARA and TTI, expecting that the revenue generated would be reinvested into improving the road conditions.
However, Coltart said the lack of funds being allocated back to the city council has left residents feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
Coltart’s call for a change in policy echoes the sentiments of many residents who have long suffered the consequences of neglected roads.
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