Harare — The Zimbabwe National Road Authority has purchased road construction equipment worth US$2,6 million from China for use in repairing and maintaining roads throughout the country, an official said on Tuesday.

Zinara acting chief executive officer Frank Chitukutuku told New Ziana that the equipment, which comprises six graders, six tippers and two water bowsers, were expected in the country before the end of this month or early next month.

"We bought the equipment in October last year," Chitukutuku said.

Chitukutuku added that the equipment would be handed over to the Department of Roads for deployment in the provinces where local authorities (also known as Road Authorities) would also be allowed to use it for a fee.

He said the equipment would enable Zinara to carry out significant road maintenance work this year.

"For the past two years we have not been able to do meaningful works because of a number of challenges which include skills flight and old equipment," he said.

The deplorable state that most roads in the country including highways have reached has resulted in an increase in accidents that have claimed many lives and left others injured.

Chitukutuku expressed confidence that Zinara would be able to carry out meaningful road maintenance this year using foreign currency that it would collect from motorists in the form of road user fees.

He said Zinara had started collecting fuel levy in foreign currency with effect from February following gazetting of a Statutory Instrument allowing it to do so.

The government authorised Zinara to collect fuel levy in forex last year but absence of the appropriate Statutory Instrument prevented it from implementing the move.

Zinara is now collecting 4 cents per litre of petrol and 5 cents per litre of diesel.

Chitukutuku, however, appealed to the government to ensure that ZINARA accesses the foreign currency which was being kept by the Reserve Bank.