Lilian Muchino
SHURUGWI: Concern has been raised over the poor state of the Boterekwa; and the entire Gweru-Shurugwi road with motorists amplifying calls to have the road renovated.
The sign post that urges drivers to slow down as they approach the curvy kopje now also gives warning for drivers to take caution over potholes that have become common site in the 10km stretch.
Moreso, while a warning traffic signs are enough to deter motorists from speeding, the state of the road has become danger to unsuspecting drivers travelling within the regulated speed limits.
“It is sad how accidents have become rife on this road. Many of the are fatal to that effect. Some may say the rains worsened the road’s delapidating state but the honest truth is the road has been neglected with no servicing for long,” said a motorist, Gilbert Madungwe said.
“We no longer have roads here in Shurugwi. We wish there could be a solution as sson as possible,” another motorist added.
Shurugwi North legislator, Ronald Nyathi however told CommuTalk that they are engaging various stakeholders to come up with an urgent solution.
This is amid the fact that no tangible action has been seen yet to promises made towards dealing with gold panners who are supposedly mining underneath the great architecture thereby posing a threat to the roads’ lifespan.
“I have seen the bad state of the road and we are engaging relevant stakeholder to deal with the situation and save lives,” Nyathi said.
The road links Chibi Turn-Off Business Centre, off the Harare-Beitbridge highway, with Mhandamabwe Growth Point in the rural Chivi heartland.
Mhandamabwe is strategically located with a network that links it to Zvishavane and Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo City and Beitbridge, making the road a key passageway for goods and human traffic.
Refurbishment of the Chivi-Mhandamabwe road has been partially finished with approximately 30km out of an estimated of 48km being completed.
The 173km road that leads to Gweru from Mhandamabwe passing through the Boterekwa curves has however remained a headache to drivers plying the route for years.
