Zimpapers Logo

From George Maponga in Masvingo

Government has started identifying a local contractor to build a new bridge across Runde River in Chilonga, south of Chiredzi in a move expected to bring closure to perennial challenges in movement faced by communities in the area.

The development is part of a concerted drive by President Mnangagwa’s administration to improve easy of doing business in the country by focussing on infrastructural development.

Communities in southern Chiredzi are always cut-off from the district commercial capital of Chiredzi whenever Runde river is flooded as the water completely submerges the low-lying Chilonga bridge rendering it impassable by both human and vehicular traffic.

Desperate villagers are forced to resort to home-made canoes to cross the flooded and crocodile-infested river a development that heightened call for Government to build a new all-weather bridge. Initial plans to build a new US$20 million bridge at Chilonga folded owing to foreign currency shortages currently blighting the country.

Masvingo provincial road Engineer Mr Peter Mukome said plans were now in motion to get a local consultant for the bridge via tender.

He said the current bridge was designed in the 1970s and there was need to design a new bridge at a new crossing point.

“Our target for this year is to get a local consultant who will carry various studies that will culminated in the identification of a new site to build Chilonga bridge.

“The current site will be difficult to work on because of the foreign currency component required to import piles required for such a project and the amount required is in the region of US$20 million which cannot be found now hence our new approach,” he said.