BINGA South legislator Fanuel Cumanzala has bemoaned the neglect of roads in his constituency by government since 1980.
Cumanzala cited roads such as the Cross-Dete to Binga, Nakapande turn-off to Lusulu and to the Grain Marketing Board depot in Lusulu and Tinde-Pashu Road turn-off.
Speaking in Parliament, Cumanzala said Binga remained cut-off from national markets, adding that the district had been neglected in terms of infrastructural development for decades.
“Although the Turn-off Cross-Dete to Binga road was tarred after independence, the road is surely turning into a dust road and has become a danger to motorists, while the Karoi Binga road has remained largely an impassable dust road,” Cumanzala said.
“This situation systematically cuts off Binga district from large markets in Bulawayo and Harare, respectively.”
Cumanzala said this was making it difficult for the district to attract investors, including transport services, because of the poor road network.
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“The deplorable condition of the roads discourages tourism in an area endowed with scenic views such as sand beach, hot springs, fishing, crocodile farm, game reserves and the rich Tonga culture, to mention a few,” he said.
Cumanzala asked Transport and Infrastructural Development deputy minister Joshua Sacco to provide time-lines for the rehabilitation of the Binga road network.
Sacco failed to provide time-lines, but said the ministry had a routine maintenance schedule, which included grading, pothole patching, bush cutting and drainage clearance.
"However, in terms of time-lines, the periodic maintenance operations are subject to availability of resources. Cross-Dete proposed loan facility is under consideration by Treasury,” Sacco said.
He said negotiations were underway to finalise term sheets to reconstruct Karoi to Binga road and ultimately to Cross Dete.
Binga has suffered years of marginalisation, with the district lacking basic social amenities such as schools.
Villagers in the area are forced to cross to neighbouring Zambia for medical care.
They also have to rely on Zambian telecommunications networks due to poor connectivity locally.
