By Matṧeliso Phulane
The quality of roads in Lesotho has come under the spotlight as the condition of many roads in the country continues to deteriorate, with potholes and poor drainage giving road users sleepless nights.
Well-constructed and maintained roads are said to be safer as they have better stopping distances, which is an important factor in accident prevention; fewer collisions are key to less injuries and a lower risk of fatality.
However, a good chunk of roads in the capital Maseru and other districts are riddled with potholes, a result erosion of uncontrolled water flow during heavy rains.
This, along with poor drainage systems is real concern to road users, both motorists and pedestrians, as many roads usually become flooded.
According to experts, poor drainage is a threat to traffic safety as water may accumulate on the road like it does in ponds. Any accumulated water creates a risk of hydroplaning – a dangerous driving condition that occurs when water causes a car’s tyres to lose contact with the road when the roads have rain on them. In addition, a wet road surface reduces friction which leads to longer distances needed to brake vehicles.
Also, uncontrolled water flows and culverts on roads can cause erosion. According to civil engineers, small diameter and clogged culverts can cause water to flow towards the road and produce erosion. Water exiting from culverts can similarly cause erosion when it discharges directly on to erosive soil.
One of the perturbed motorists who is a cab driver along the Maseru bus stop and Khubetsonana route, Lehlomela Maisa said vehicles are prone to being broken from damaged roads.
“Driving into a pothole can damage the vehicle’s tyres, damage shock absorbers and struts. It can also cause alignment problems to the vehicle,” Maisa said.
He is convinced that many accidents are caused by vehicles trying to avoid potholes.
“We tend to make so many unforced mistakes while driving, trying to avoid the potholes. When driving at high speed, it is difficult to spot and avoid a pothole on time, especially when there is an oncoming vehicle. The roads are so damaged that driving is a hurdle even in the city centre and its outskirts,” he complained.
The motorists, he felt, are forced to drive at low speed, and this results in late arrival at their destinations.
“The passengers always get impatient and accuse us of wasting their time. I think since the government ministers also use these roads when driving in both government and personal cars, this will prompt them to take action and maintain the roads. We can’t afford to buy car spare parts every month,” Maisa lashed out.
Commenting on the state of roads, a local company civil engineer, Mokaloba Monyane, said heavy rainfalls have immensely contributed to the erosion of roads, resulting in potholes.
“It washes away weak concrete, especially if there is no drainage system. Below the road formation level, the soil is known as the subgrade. It is essential that the strength of the road is tested prior to starting any earthwork. Road tarmac is determined by the sub-graded strength, so it is advisable to ensure the subgrade is as strong as possible,” he said.
Another civil engineer, Rethabile Moeketsi Lebofa, blamed corruption for the construction of sub-standard roads.
“There is so much corruption and nepotism going on within the government circles. The road construction tenders are awarded to contractors who only deliver sub-standard works when constructing the roads. Some contractors just pay bribes to obtain licenses.
Lebofa claimed that in many cases laboratory tests for the soil texture are not fully done to determine the quality of the required standard of the road.
“Road construction procedures differ according to the location; if the land is moist tests should be done and samples taken to the laboratory. However, they fail to do so. They would rather bribe road construction inspectors and get away with their shoddy workmanship carry,” he said, as he called for regular constant road quality inspection.
“Some of the roads constructed many years ago are still in good condition although they require minor maintenance. Any delay in maintaining and repairing the roads may result in further damage which makes driving difficult,” he said.
Lebofa suggested that more roads should be constructed because the same roads are used by vehicles of all sizes, including heavy lorries.
“Heavy duty vehicles destroy the road layer and aggravate potholes. As a result, they should drive in selected roads which are regarded as grade A.”
This crisis is worsened by the fact that there is no code of ethics for engineers in Lesotho, as a Construction Industry Bill is yet to find its way to parliament.
Meanwhile, finance minister Thabo Sophonea, said a new legislation was in the pipeline that will regulate tendering processes. “We will implement new procurement legislation and instruments to better tendering processes and attain value for money plus more efficient pricing of services.
“Infrastructure is the live wire of every thriving economy and if well managed, has immediate effects in restoring productivity and growth. Adequate and well maintained infrastructure will provide our country with strong economic stimulus that will assist in rebalancing our economic growth. M4.4 billion has been allocated to this sector.
“In recent years, the government had engaged contractors for routine maintenance of roads, however, the country’s current economic status warrants a reconsideration of this approach. The government will reinstitute labour-based system for routine maintenance,” he said in the 2022/2023 budget speech.
The Roads Directorate which is responsible for construction, up grading, rehabilitation and maintenance of primary, secondary, tertiary and other roads as well as bridges on the Lesotho road network. Roads Directorate public relations officer Nozesolo Mpopo, cast more light into the intricacies of road construction.
“The design life of roads is 20 years and most of Lesotho roads have exited 20 years and requiring rehabilitation hence the recurring potholes. When most of the roads were designed, there were no settlements along the roads. Lately there has been a lot of developments in the form of residences and business establishments therefore increasing the run-off rain water into the drainage systems.
“There has been a lot of encroachments into the road reserve which has led in some instances into blockage of the drainage systems. Land use planning is not available therefore designs are not informed by land use.
“As for the criteria we consider when awarding road construction tenders, we look at technical competence, that is experience in the type of works tendered for, methodology proposed by the contractor as well as work plans.”
Asked how many roads are earmarked for repair in the new financial year, Mpopo told this publication yesterday that the Directorate is still awaiting budget approval.
She also refuted suggestion of the sub-standard quality of roads which are vulnerable to forces of the elements, which leads to easy erosion and damage. “This is a false allegation, definitely not from an engineer.”
