dyton mupawaenda
Freedom Mupanedemo-Midlands Bureau
For years, travelling between Gokwe North and South districts was a nightmare especially during the rainy season.
The rugged terrain and sticky muddy soils of Gokwe have been difficult and hard to navigate for motorists under wet conditions.
The majority of transport operators were shunning the area, thereby cutting the two districts off from other parts of the country. Gunguhwe bridge was swept away after heavy rains in 2008, and had not been repaired, until the coming in of the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, who declared in November 2017 that he was a listening President.
The Second Republic, acting on President Mnangagwa’s mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind”, has been working on improving the country’s road network.
And Gokwe has benefited immensely too.
And the recent completion and commissioning of Gunguhwe Bridge in Gokwe North is a major milestone for the area, which is set to improve economic and social services in the district.
It cost US$380 000 to construct the bridge.
A local farmer, Mr Phillimon Marecha, said everyone in the two districts, including farmers, will benefit from the construction of the bridge.
“I am very happy that this bridge has been completed and we can now do business without transport hustles,” he said.
“Our major business area is Gokwe Centre and now that there is this bridge, we can transport our produce easily to Gokwe Centre, and make an extra dollar for ourselves.”
Gunguhwe bridge was constructed by Government through the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), formerly the District Development Fund (DDF).
Chief Chireya of Gokwe North said the new bridge will help connect Mashonaland West Province and Mutora Business Centre to Binga in Matabeleland North Province, making life easy for the community.
“We are greatly relieved as the community of Gokwe with the commissioning of this bridge,” said Chief Chireya.
“It is a major link to the ‘outside world’. We have been waiting for this process, which has brought much joy to us. It was a struggle to travel to Mutora Business Centre as transport would stop on either end of the river banks since there was no bridge.”
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Owen Ncube who commissioned the bridge recently, said provision of key infrastructure was critical for the upliftment of people’s lives.
He said President Mnangagwa promised to “leave no one and no place behind” in his development efforts, and the bridge was a clear example of that.
“This is in line with the modernisation thrust of the Second Republic, and I want to assure you that work to improve and extend public infrastructure into all parts of the country will continue in line with the President’s Dr E.D Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind. I would like to commend the implementer of these projects, the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency for a job well done.
“Indeed, you have demonstrated the commitment of the Second Republic to improve the quality of lives of people in our rural communities,” he said.
Construction works of Gunguhwe bridge started in 2021.
Online Reporter