By Fanuel Chinowaita
MUTARE – The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has remained silent over concerns about the deteriorating state of roads in Mutare, despite mounting complaints from residents and a response from Mutare City Council.
This follows an open letter written by a concerned resident through The Wasu Post recently, highlighting the worsening condition of several key roads across the city after heavy rains experienced in recent weeks.
In the letter addressed to Mutare City authorities, the resident described the city’s road infrastructure as rapidly deteriorating, with potholes and damaged surfaces causing long traffic delays and frustration among motorists.
The resident singled out the road linking Mutare’s central business district and Sakubva as one of the most affected routes. A journey that normally takes about five minutes is now reportedly taking between 30 and 45 minutes due to heavy congestion and potholes along the route.
“Motorists are forced to slow down significantly to avoid damaging their vehicles,” the resident wrote.
The letter also highlighted the poor condition of roads in Chikanga suburb, particularly Magamba Road and the road leading to Chikanga TM, noting that the roads have deteriorated badly and require urgent attention as they are widely used by residents, commuters and businesses.
Another route flagged for urgent repairs is the road linking Sakubva to Chikanga Phase 3 via St Joseph’s Bridge, which residents say has worsened significantly despite being a key connection between the two suburbs.
Concerns were also raised about the narrow flyover linking Sakubva and the city centre, which frequently causes traffic congestion, especially during peak hours.
In response, Mutare City Council said the road mentioned by the resident falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport.
Mutare City Council Corporate Communications Officer Charles Sadondo said the road is maintained by the Ministry through its Department of Roads.
“The mentioned road falls under the Ministry of Transport. Chimanimani Road is maintained by the Ministry of Transport through their local office at the Department of Roads,” said Sadondo.
Two months ago, Mutare City Town Clerk Blessing Chafesuka also highlighted funding challenges affecting road maintenance in the city. He revealed that the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) allocated only four percent of Mutare’s required road maintenance funding last year.
According to Chafesuka, the allocation was slightly above ZWL$500 000, an amount he said was inadequate even for basic repairs.
He said the city requires approximately US$10 million annually for road maintenance, yet revenue collections remain significantly below that figure.
The city currently collects about US$1.2 million per year from road levies, while parking fees generate between US$23 000 and US$25 000 per month.
“These figures show a serious mismatch between our infrastructure needs and our revenue inflows,” he said.
The Wasu Post contacted officials from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development for comment. The officials initially promised to respond to questions sent by the publication, but had not provided a response by the time of publication.
Residents have since urged authorities to urgently prioritise road rehabilitation to restore smooth traffic flow and maintain Mutare’s reputation as one of Zimbabwe’s most attractive urban centres.