Chiredzi South cut off from service delivery

Sharon Chimenya, Masvingo Correspondent
CHIREDZI South Constituency which relies heavily from services in Chiredzi town has been cut off from the centre following the incessant rains in the area.

The rains have flooded the Runde River that has submerged the low-lying Chilonga bridge which has become a seasonal crossing point and is unreliable in the rainy season. The bridge offers the shortest route to Chiredzi which is about 22 kilometres but during the rainy season people are forced to take a longer route which will go through Rutenga then Ngundu, a journey of 375 kilometres. Some people in the area risk their lives to cross the flooded river with others making quick money in transporting people to the other side using canoes which is very risky.

Recently a man drowned trying to cross over to the other side after the canoe they were in was attacked by a hippopotamus.

Chiredzi South Member of Parliament Retired Brigadier-General Kalisto Gwanetsa said people in the area were facing a lot of problems in terms of transportation and medical emergencies as the bridge was impassable with the other alternative bridge also flooded.

“The bridge is a causeway which is a seasonal crossing point and is unreliable in the rainy season. From 2000 when the Chipinda Bridge was swept away by Cyclone Eline, the people of Chiredzi South have no good access to the service centre which is Chiredzi town. We are facing a lot of problems in terms of transportation, medical emergencies, provision of food stuffs on a daily basis as it has to go through the bridge.

“The other alternative was Mupapa Bridge but it has been affected following the full capacity of Tugwi Mukosi because of the incessant rains. Runde is flooded and Mupapa is on the confluence of Runde and Tugwi, so it will take some time to utilise the alternative,” he said.

Rtd Brig-Gen Gwanetsa said the people were taking the risky route as it is cheaper and closer to the town than to take the close to 400km route. “It is very risky for people to be using canoes but if we could get a power propelled boat things will be better. It is also very costly for people of Sengwe and Matibi 2 who could cross to Beitbridge but during this period they are unable to cross over hence the area has become an island.”

He however, said Government was working on the construction of the bridge with survey and technical drawing for the new bridge already having being done.

“The bridge, according to reliable sources, is going to cost between US$20-40 million. It is quite an expensive project and has been on the drawing board from 1985 to date and the economy of the country is not in a healthy state. The Minister of Finance and Development (Professor Mthuli Ncube), when he came here, promised that some money would be directed to the project.”