The Sunday Mail
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Sunday Mail Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration has disbursed nearly $200 million to the Harare City Council for road rehabilitation works this year, with the local authority failing to account for around $154 million of the funds.
Two disbursements of $44 million and $154 million were released to council in April and September respectively. However, Town House has failed to acquit for the second tranche while insisting on further disbursements.
As a result, zinara has withheld further payouts before council accounts for the last tranche.
The city has budgeted $1,35 billion for road works this year.
In a statement, zinara dismissed an article published by a local daily newspaper alleging that the roads administration authority had failed to disburse adequate funds for road works to the capital.
“It is not correct that zinara is delaying disbursements to the City of Harare,” reads the statement.
“The correct position is that early in the year, the City of Harare advised zinara that they were facing internal problems that resulted in acquittal challenges and delays in the implementation of 2021 projects.”
zinara said it has in the past engaged Harare city council over the underutilisation of funds by the city.
“In 2021, zinara has made two advance disbursements to the City of Harare.
“The first advance disbursement was made in April 2021 for $44 million and the second disbursement was for $154 million in September 2021.
“The City of Harare is yet to acquit the $154 million for them to access the next disbursement.
“The funds, in line with the allocation, are available and further disbursements will only be made once the City of Harare acquits.”
zinara said in line with its new thrust, which epitomises transparency and timeous disbursements, the statutory body has published two disbursement schedules for all road authorities this year.
