We don’t pay for shoddy works, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Honourable Felix Tapiwa Mhona has said.
Addressing the media yesterday while officially opening the Nemakonde Road in Harare to the motoring public, Hon Mhona said that as a Ministry they will not tolerate substandard work.
“A bad road which was done by other contractors along Harare Drive (Sam Mujoma and Alpes Road) is quite a sorry state and I can say this again and we have said this that under the 2nd Republic we don’t pay for shoddy works.
“The contractors know this very well, we can only release payment when we are satisfied with the work done,” he said.
Hon Mhona added that they had a similar case at Lorraine drive where the road was not constructed properly.
“If a section is not done properly, we will mandate the contractor to redo and for those who were following in Parliament we also had another section from Fossil again which is Lorraine drive and they assured us that they were going to revisit the section, we don`t pay for shoddy works.
“You will see the contractors moving to redo Lorraine Drive, I even gave an example to say it could be in practice like a doctor procedure can go wrong but we do not condone such kind of practice but if we encounter problems we have to administer with speed,” he said.
Hon Mhona showed satisfaction on the Nemakonde way and elaborated that this was not because of SADC but culturally as Zimbabweans we are known for making sure that our visitors are well taken care of.
“Today we are witnessing this beautiful road and it’s part of the Harare-Chirundu Road, you heard from the contractors that they started right from the Main Post Office.
“Others are saying it is because of the SADC Summit but I always say this, yes even culturally when you get visitors coming we outdo ourselves to make sure our visitors are comfortable and culturally this is us.
“As we speak if you go to Nyanga we have Ruwanga road construction which is progressing well, in Bulawayo we have the Leeds Road but SADC is not in those cities, however it is the culture and the work ethic of the 2nd Republic,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Hon C Tawengwa apologized to the residents for inconveniences caused.
“Firstly I want to apologise to the residents and motorists who were swearing and cursing at us saying we were being inconvient.
“I’m sure that the incovience was worthy it and the wait is now over, we can now drive smoothly.
“The work we are witnessing today are upto standard, residents and yourself will not condemn this road but we have to applaud this,” said Hon Tawengwa.
Hon Mhona, Hon Tawengwa and government officials later on toured the Harare Drive which was badly done after officially opening the Nemakonde section to the public.
Engineer Muchena, Provincial Engineer for Harare under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development confirmed that the Harare Drive was not upto standard and he was personally going to oversee the process.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is engaged in several projects in Harare like the Mbudzi Interchange, VVIP Pavilion Lounge at RGMI Airport to mention but a few.
Story by Farirai Mutumburanzou
