Harare City Council is set to partner one of the largest state-owned companies in China, Sinohydro Corporation, in a deal that could result in roads being rehabilitated and dualised.
Environmental Management Committee director of works Engineer Phillip Pfukwa sought council approval and authority to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to undertake a feasibility study for the Harare Road Rehabilitation and Dualisation Project between City of Harare and Sinohydro Corporation Limited.
He reported that Sinohydro had approached the city with a proposal for the rehabilitation and dualisation of Harare roads.
Subject to approval, council authorised the acting town clerk (Josephine Ncube) to negotiate and sign an MoU between Harare and Sinohydro.Early this year, Government declared Harare roads a state of disaster and it moved in to assist the city to rehabilitate the untrafficable roads some of which are contributing to major accidents.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development deployed a team to start work on some of the major roads, but a lot is still to be done as more than 60% of the 5 000-km road network is impassable.
The incessant rains, which affected most of the country have worsened the conditions of most roads.Harare City Council said it was expecting to get between $40 million and $70 million for rehabilitation.
Zinara board chairperson Albert Mugabe is on the record saying local authorities had access to the same funds, but used them for other purposes other than road rehabilitation.
