ROAD Fund has accused Road Implementing Agencies of failing to build and repair roads despite having been allocated hundreds of millions of Maloti in the 2022/2023 financial year. The allegations are contained in an annual report released last week by the Road Fund.
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The Road Fund said the Maseru City Council (MCC), the Ministry of Local Government and the Road Safety Department were allocated over M217.3 million but didn’t repair roads.
The Fund’s deputy chairman, Khotso Moleleki, said only the Roads Directorate implemented road repair projects rolled over from the previous financial year.
“Road Fund Board of Directors remained concerned about the performance of Road Implementing Agencies, which remained below par in relation to funds allocated to them,” Moleleki said.
He said the actual performance as per their mandate of maintenance and rehabilitation of roads are not satisfactory.
He said the Roads Directorate implemented most of the projects rolled over due to the inability to monitor and control programmes under their jurisdiction.
“On the contrary, the Ministry of Local Government and Maseru City Council did not implement any new projects in 2022-2023,” he said.
“This is despite the allocation of funds to these two implementing agencies, and this is a concern to the Road Fund since such non-performance is directly related to the deterioration of the road network, increased vehicle operating costs and safety on the roads.”
The agencies, he said, were only able to implement projects that amounted to M72.6 million during the period under review, hence the ongoing concern in relation to performance versus allocated funds.
Moleleki said there was an increase in revenue collection, as the Road Fund collected over M219.1 million, thus increasing by more than M35.3 million (19.24 percent) from M183.7 million collected for the same period ended on March 31, 2022.
He said the Road Maintenance Levy remained the largest stream, followed by the Toll Gate Fees.
“Both saw an adjustment of rates from the beginning of the year under review, hence a remarkable performance compared to the previous financial year,” he said.
The Road Fund CEO, Nkekeletse Makara, said the fund depends on the agencies to undertake its mandate.
Makara said there was “continual collaboration” with the Implementing Agencies on the maintenance of roads and in enhancing road user safety.
He said the Road Safety Department remained the relevant stakeholder.
He however said the performance of the Implementing Agencies “remains a huge concern for the Road Fund”.
“Once again, the Agencies could not match the budget allocated with expenditure on projects on the ground,” he said.
“For this financial year, two of the three Implementing Agencies did not implement new projects, despite the Road Fund having allocated funds as per their yearly implementation plan.”
Last year the Road Directorate said the government needed M2.1 billion to upgrade at least 478 kilometres of paved roads countrywide.
The directorate said of this amount, M296 million was required for light reseals, meant to curb further deterioration of roads on 182 kilometres of tarred roads.
The directorate also said M1.81 billion of the money was needed for light and heavy rehabilitation to cover 296 kilometres.
The directorate said there was a repair backlog for 1 703 kilometres of unpaved roads that would require M3.9 billion.
M2.1 billion of it would be for re-gravelling.
In 2018 the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Lesotho recorded a high number of traffic-related deaths and injuries, logging 584 deaths, mainly caused by road traffic accidents.
Africa Press said the main cause of the deaths and injuries could be attributed to poor road infrastructure.
The Africa Press observed that heavy rains had washed away bridges and the water left farrows and pounds in the roads.
The state of gravel and tarred roads was generally poor therefore seeking more attention and development.
“However, development of road infrastructure is not prioritised and extreme weather conditions make it hard for Basotho to survive.”
Staff Reporter
