adminSukoluhle Ndlovu Midlands Correspondent
OVER 8 000 villagers including 500 pupils in Mberengwa North have been left stranded following the collapse of Jeka-Chegato Bridge along Mwenezi River due to floods caused by incessant rains that have been falling in the district during the past two weeks.
Member of Parliament for Mberengwa North Cde Tafanana Zhou confirmed the development adding that the most affected villagers were from Wards 12, 15 and 16. Jeka-Chegato Bridge was rehabilitated late last year for about $500 000 after it was destroyed by Cyclone Dineo induced floods in February last year forcing villagers to use a long route passing through Gwanda in Matabeleland South.
As a result, Cde Zhou said pupils were not attending school while villagers and patients were failing to access Jeka clinic because the district had been cut off from the rest of the country.
“Jeka-Chegato Bridge that was rehabilitated late last year has been destroyed by the floods which, wreaked havoc in Mberengwa North leaving at least 8000 villagers and 500 students attending Chegato Primary School, Chegato High School and Ruzengwe Secondary School stranded. The most affected villagers are from wards 12 under Chief Mapiravana and ward 15 and 16 under Chief Mposi. The children have not been able to go to school as they cannot cross the flooded Mwenezi River,” said Cde Zhou.
Cde Zhou said plans were underway to rectify the problem so that people could go on with their everyday life.
“Plan to rectify the problem are currently underway and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development has already paid a team of soldiers who have been mandated to construct a bale bridge so that people can continue with their lives,” he said.
Online Reporter