By Patience Gondo
THE Municipality of Beitbridge is considering including the cost of tarred roads in residential stand prices, a suggestion that follows growing questions from residents over why feeder roads remain neglected despite their regular road levy payments.
Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola said the new proposal will ensure future suburbs are developed with proper road infrastructure from the onset.
“Going forward, in new suburbs council will consider including tar in the stand price so that we have tarred feeder roads,” Ramakgapola told Ziyah News Network.
The suggestion comes as residents have questioned council’s road maintenance priorities, saying most internal roads remain damaged while graders focus on major routes.
One resident Nelly Moyo, expressed frustration in a social media comment.
“We pay road levy but the grader only rehabilitates the main roads ko pakati kudzimba migero yachereka inogadzirwa nani. ( who should repair those roads which have formed into rivulets) .Are we supposed to do it for ourselves here.”
Ramakgapola said council prioritised main roads because of their importance to traffic movement and economic activity.
“We have prioritised main roads since they are used by many and internal roads we are coming to maintain them,” he said.
He said the condition of some internal roads requires more than routine grading.
“Some of the internal roads are really damaged. They have developed serious holes that cannot be fixed by grading. They need resealing and overlay,” he said.
Council’s efforts have also been affected by equipment shortages after its tipper truck was reassigned for national events.
“We do not have our tipper since it was seconded to Maphisa for Independence preparations. Council is now trying to source a tipper,” he said.
Ramakgapola acknowledged that council’s machinery is insufficient for the size of the town.
“Remember we have one grader and the town is too big for one grader,” he said.
He said council has identified 35 roads for maintenance, with some already rehabilitated.
“Thirty-five roads have been drafted for maintenance, and some have already been maintained for example the Ramakgapola road,
“ he said.
He said permanent repairs depend on the availability of funds.
“If funds come, we order tar and patch using tar,” he said.
Ramakgapola said residents should expect improvements soon.
“By the end of March, there will be a lot of changes,” he said.