Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
The Civil Protection Committee (CPC) has allayed fears regarding the trafficability of a section of the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway after a makeshift bridge along a detour near Ngundu Growth Point was swept away by heavy rains.
Today social media was awash with unfounded reports that the collapse of the makeshift bridge, about 7 km from Ngundu, had completely blocked traffic on the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway.
Pictures of a loaded haulage truck that got trapped in a collapsed section of the detour just after Ngundu have been circulating on social media.
CPC Chivi chairperson Mr Innocent Matingwina downplayed the incident, stating that traffic was moving smoothly along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road.
Mr Matingwina, who is also the Chivi District Development Coordinator, said Bitumen World has since opened a tarred section of the highway for traffic to pass through while circumventing the detour.
“It was just a small challenge that occurred after a haulage truck got stuck in a depression that formed when the makeshift bridge along the detour near Ngundu Growth Point was swept away by heavy rains,” he said.
“Bitumen World, the contractor working on the affected section of the road, swiftly moved in and opened the tarred section to allow traffic to pass through.”
The Chivi District Development Coordinator stated that traffic is now moving smoothly along the highway.
“The tarred section is now open, allowing motorists to avoid the detour, so everything is fine. Bitumen opened the tarred section, although road markings have not yet been applied along the section in question.”
Heavy rains have been falling in Masvingo over the past 24 hours, precipitating flash floods in some areas.
The Masvingo-Beitbridge highway is a key artery for moving human traffic and cargo between Zimbabwe and its largest trading partner, South Africa.
Peter Tanyanyiwa