Garikai residents stranded as stream footbridge is flooded

Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau

People in Garikai suburb in Bindura are left stranded as the downpour persists and are risking their lives by crossing the flooded stream.

This follows failure by Bindura Municipality to construct a bridge which links the suburb to the rest of the town.

Garikai suburb is on the other side of Bindura town and a stream demarcates it from the rest of the residential areas yet there are no schools or clinics.

With the incessant rains currently being experienced in Bindura, the footbridge which people use to cross the stream has been flooded.

Ms Yeukai Manomano said they are living in fear as school children use the flooded footbridge to get to schools which are on the other side of the stream.

She said some people wait for the water to recede while others take risks and cross the flooded stream with the aid of a resident for a fee.

Ward 12 Councillor Wonder Machisi said residents should be patient and wait for the water to recede instead of crossing the flooded stream.

He said Bindura Municipality has no resources at the moment and is struggling to pay its workers and purchase water treatment chemicals.

“The few funds that we can spare are being channeled towards construction of the bridge. We are hoping that construction will resume this year,” he said.