The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has published its third-quarter disbursement report for 2024, providing insights into the financial allocations and spending of road authorities across Zimbabwe.
The report outlines the budget allocated to each province and national departments responsible for road maintenance and development, including actual funds disbursed up to the third quarter of the year and the remaining budget for the fourth quarter.
This disbursement report is part of ZINARA’s ongoing efforts to improve transparency and accountability in road funding, ensuring that every dollar allocated contributes to the country’s infrastructure development, enhancing national and regional connectivity.
One of the top-priority sectors in ZINARA’s budget, National Emergency Works, was allocated ZWL 273,142,239 for the year. However, only ZWL 17,054,992 has been disbursed up to the third quarter, with a vast 94% of the budget—ZWL 256,087,247—still remaining.
This massive unused portion emphasizes the importance of ramping up efforts to address road emergencies such as damage from floods, erosion, and other natural disasters that frequently affect Zimbabwe’s road network.
The Department of Roads – National, responsible for overseeing road maintenance and upgrades at a national level, was allocated ZWL 231,599,774.
By the end of the third quarter, ZWL 51,597,174 had been disbursed, accounting for 22% of the total allocation.
With 78% of the budget (ZWL 180,002,600) still available, there is a significant opportunity to scale up road works in the final quarter to meet annual targets.
The Road Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), another critical entity, received an allocation of ZWL 158,690,658, of which ZWL 50,598,132 has been spent so far. This represents a 32% utilization, leaving ZWL 107,702,526 for further disbursements.
RIDA’s mandate includes not only maintenance but also the expansion and upgrading of road infrastructure, which is essential for supporting the growth of Zimbabwe’s economy, particularly in rural and remote areas.
The performance of provinces shows a mixed picture in terms of budget utilization:
Harare Metropolitan, the capital province, was allocated ZWL 81,658,737. However, the utilization of these funds has been relatively slow, with only ZWL 12,036,537 disbursed by the third quarter.
This leaves a significant 85% (ZWL 69,622,200) of the budget unused.
With the capital’s roads facing growing challenges due to increased urbanization and vehicle congestion, the remaining funds will be crucial in tackling road repairs and improvements in the city.
Bulawayo Metropolitan, another major urban center, was allocated ZWL 78,948,931, with ZWL 15,123,675 disbursed to date. Similar to Harare, Bulawayo has also utilized only a small fraction of its budget, with 81% of the funds (ZWL 63,825,256) still remaining.
Both metropolitan areas will need to expedite their projects in the final quarter to fully utilize their allocations and address pressing road infrastructure issues.
Mashonaland West has seen a higher-than-average disbursement, using 64% of its allocated ZWL 38,097,590, leaving ZWL 13,805,905 for the final quarter. Meanwhile, Manicaland, which received ZWL 30,410,392, has spent 45% of its funds, with ZWL 16,444,055 remaining.
The region’s rugged terrain and frequent storms make it particularly important for these funds to be effectively utilized for road maintenance and disaster preparedness.
Midlands, with an allocation of ZWL 30,146,759, has been more conservative in its spending, using just 30% (ZWL 8,692,330), leaving ZWL 21,454,429 available for the rest of the year.
This reflects a slower pace of roadwork implementation, but the fourth quarter could provide the needed acceleration to complete key projects.
Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South received ZWL 25,051,585 and ZWL 25,051,585, respectively. Of these funds, Matabeleland North has spent 43% (ZWL 10,751,005), while Matabeleland South has used 51% (ZWL 12,793,385).
These regions face unique challenges in terms of accessibility and vast rural areas requiring road upgrades, so the remaining funds are critical for ensuring progress on these projects.
In total, ZINARA allocated ZWL 983,125,405 for road infrastructure across Zimbabwe for the year 2024. By the end of the third quarter, ZWL 500,632,615 had been spent, leaving ZWL 482,492,790 (51%) still available for further disbursement.
This shows a balanced approach, with half the year’s budget still on hand for final quarter projects.
However, it also suggests that road authorities must intensify their efforts to ensure all planned works are completed within the fiscal year.
ZINARA’s third-quarter report underscores both the progress made and the challenges faced in fully utilizing allocated funds.
With only 51% of the budget spent so far, provincial and national road authorities must expedite road maintenance and development projects to avoid budget rollovers and ensure that Zimbabwe’s road infrastructure meets the growing demands of transportation, trade, and economic development.
The remaining disbursements offer a substantial opportunity for authorities to complete vital road projects, improve road safety, and enhance accessibility across the country.
In the final quarter, the focus will be on rapid project execution to ensure all allocated funds contribute to achieving Zimbabwe’s infrastructure goals for 2024.
