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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Rehabilitation of the damaged Chilonga Bridge, which links Chiredzi South and Chiredzi West is set to start soon after Government availed $3 million for the project. The low bridge constructed across Runde River was recently damaged by heavy rains in the Lowveld.

The damage to the bridge, which poses a perennial challenge to villagers from Chiredzi South during the rainy season, has virtually cut off areas like Chikombedzi from the district commercial capital of Chiredzi.

This is forcing villagers from Chiredzi South to travel 250km to Chiredzi town which is only less than 30km from Chilonga.
Masvingo provincial administrator Mr Fungai Mbetsa said money to repair Chilonga Bridge had been secured.

“Government has already released $500 000 of the $3 million availed towards the rehabilitation of Chilonga Bridge. This is for the engineers to start work at the critical bridge,” said Mr Mbetsa.

He, however, said engineers were also studying if it was possible to reconstruct the Chipinda Bridge destroyed by Cyclone Eline-induced floods in 2000 or to only rehabilitate the low-lying Chilonga Bridge.

“Generally, the road network in the province is in bad state and the worst affected roads are in rural areas. The situation has been worsened by the incessant rains, currently received across the province.

“However, priority should be given to serious situations like in the case of Chilonga Bridge in Chiredzi South,” he said.
He also bemoaned the lack of capacity that all rural district councils had and appealed to Government to address the anomaly  so that poor road network could be addressed.

He said most of the seven rural local authorities in Masvingo had one grader each and this had a negative impact on road rehabilitation and maintenance projects.

“I am happy that the Beitbridge -Harare highway dualisation will start soon and once the three-year-project is complete, our road network will be far much better. The major contractor, Geiger International from Austria have set base in Masvingo City, raising hope that, the project to create 300 000 jobs will commence soon.”

Chiredzi South national assembly member Brigadier-General Callisto Gwanetsa (Retired) hailed the Government for coming to the constituency’s rescue.

“I am happy that Government has come to our rescue as people in this constituency. My prayer has finally been answered on Chilonga Bridge, after many years,as the problem has been perennial. We want to thank President Emmerson Mnangagwa for giving an ear, to our cries,” said Brig-Gen Gwanetsa (Rtd).