Trymore Tagwirei
Recent flooding in Mberengwa has wrought more damage to the Jeka – Chegato Bridge across the Mwenezi River cutting off a vital link between communities in Mberengwa West, North, and South and neighbouring Matabeleland South Province.
The bridge (pictured) which had just undergone makeshift repairs following damages caused by successive flooding starting with Cyclone Dineo in 2017, has now sustained more damage.
The destruction of this key structure has left thousands of villagers stranded and disrupted access to schools, clinics, and transport networks.
Omega Zhou of Ward 15 noted that the bridge is essential for residents to access basic services, explaining that people are now forced to navigate unsafe routes and some children are unable to attend classes.
“We now have to navigate unsafe routes, with some school children unable to attend classes due to rivers that are now more difficult to cross,” she said.
Mberengwa District Development Coordinator (DDC) Vafios Hlavati said efforts to repair the damaged infrastructure are now underway, as the government has availed funds to attend to the situation.
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“Several bridges and roads were severely destroyed by the incessant rains making almost the whole district inaccessible. We are attending to all those damaged roads and bridges. Government has availed funds to attend to this bad situation,” said Hlavati.
He praised Mberengwa Central MP Tinashe Shumba for providing 5,000 litres of diesel and 600 bags of cement to assist the worst affected areas, with the MP promising to increase supplies as work progresses.
“The MP promised to increase both fuel and cement as the work progresses, and we are busy attending to the worst affected areas,” said Hlavati.
While the flooding has crippled transport routes across the entire district, Hlavati also highlighted the contribution of Sandawana Lithium Mine, under Mutapa Energy Minerals, which has commenced work on tarring the road from York Business Centre to the mine.
