Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
While many villagers in Guruve celebrated the completion of the long-awaited Mwembezi Causeway, the occasion also stirred painful memories for one resident whose life was forever changed by the river.
Amid the celebrations, emotions overwhelmed Sino Gara, who broke down in tears as he recalled the tragic loss of his brother, Cephas Gara, who drowned in 2021 just a short distance from their home, leaving behind five children.
For families like the Garas, the Causeway, stands not only as a symbol of development, but also as a solemn reminder of lives lost and the urgent need for safe infrastructure in rural communities.
The newly constructed Mwembezi Causeway, built by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), stretches 75 metres across the Mwembezi River along the Chigwada-Berrys Post Road in Ward 10, Guruve District.
Replacing a previously unsafe pipe drift, the causeway now provides a reliable, all-weather crossing point, dramatically improving access and connectivity for surrounding communities.
Before its construction, the Mwembezi River was a seasonal hazard.
During the rainy months, it became impassable, cutting off entire communities and placing lives at constant risk.
Schoolchildren, patients, and villagers were often left stranded, while others risked crossing the swollen river, sometimes with fatal consequences.
One such memory remains vividly etched in the mind of Cde Christopher Magomo, now the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland Central.
As a young pupil at St Philips Mangwenya High School, he and his classmates had no choice but to brave the river each day in pursuit of an education.
They would cross hand in hand, forming a human chain, a fragile lifeline against the force of the current.
Among them was a young girl named Mercy.
One morning, as they made their way across, tragedy nearly struck.
Mercy slipped, and in an instant, she was almost swept away by the rushing waters.
Her school bag, filled with books and dreams, disappeared downstream.
Panic gripped the group, but through courage and determination, the children managed to pull her back to safety.
They survived but the trauma lingered.
Such incidents were not isolated. They reflect the harsh reality once faced by more than 4 600 people in the area, including over 1 100 households, who depended on unsafe crossings to access education, healthcare, and markets.
During the rainy season, the river effectively severed communities from essential services.
Pregnant women struggled to reach clinics, while outreach programmes by the National AIDS Council (NAC), including HIV prevention and antiretroviral therapy distribution, were severely disrupted.
Farmers could not transport their produce, stifling livelihoods and local economic activity.
Children missed school or risked their lives attempting to attend.
It is against this backdrop that the commissioning of the Mwembezi Causeway becomes more than just an infrastructure milestone, it is a powerful story of resilience, transformation, and hope fulfilled.
For the people of Guruve, this is not merely a structure of concrete and steel. It is dignity restored.
Children can now walk to school without fear.
Patients can access healthcare services without delay. HIV and AIDS outreach programmes can reach communities on time, ensuring continuity of care.
Farmers are now able to transport their produce efficiently, unlocking economic opportunities that were once beyond reach.
Minister Magomo said the causeway also strengthens a broader road network spanning approximately 50 kilometres, linking key areas such as Chigwada, Dzvukamanja, Berejena, Hozo, Berrys Post, and Nyakapupu.
“This improved connectivity is expected to stimulate local economic growth, support rural industrialisation, and enhance access to essential services,” he said.
“The responsibility now lies with all stakeholders and the community to safeguard and maintain this infrastructure so that it continues to serve generations to come.”
His presence at the commissioning carried deep personal significance, from a boy who once risked his life crossing the Mwembezi River to a leader presiding over the construction of a safer future.
His journey mirrors that of the community itself. One of struggle, perseverance, and eventual triumph.
Equally notable is the spirit in which the project was undertaken.
The local community played an active role in its construction, contributing labour and locally available materials, a true reflection of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.”
RIDA provincial engineer Mr Emmanuel Chisanduro said the project exemplifies the success of the devolution agenda, where Government works hand in hand with communities to deliver sustainable development.
“This is a model of development where citizens take ownership of projects that directly impact their lives,” he said.
“The Mwembezi Causeway is not just a solution to a long-standing challenge, but a symbol of what can be achieved through collective effort and commitment.”
The causeway now serves several key institutions, including Nyandoro, Nyakapupu, Nyamangore, and Mavare schools, Aaron Boarding School, as well as Nyakapupu Clinic, facilities that were once difficult to access during the rainy season.
Construction of the project took approximately 15 months, beginning with community mobilisation in mid-2024 and concluding earlier this year.
Guruve Rural District Council vice chairperson Mrs Muchaneta Mushonga described the causeway as a symbol of unity, resilience, and shared progress.
“This achievement resonates strongly with the national development vision and demonstrates that meaningful progress is possible when communities work together,” she said.
She added that the project aligns with Vision 2030 by improving infrastructure and promoting inclusive service delivery in rural areas.
Today, the Mwembezi Causeway stands as a beacon of hope, a bridge between past hardships and a safer, more connected future.
And for Mercy, Christopher, and countless others, the journey across the river is no longer one of fear, but of promise.
