New bridge paves way for Gokwe South development

IN a significant development for Gokwe South, Midlands Province on Friday witnessed the commissioning of the Chemusonde Bridge.

Constructed under the auspices of the Second Republic through the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida) and funded by the Public Sector Investment Programme, the bridge was completed at a cost of US$230 000.

The Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, presided over the commissioning ceremony.

“This project is a testament to the concrete results delivered by the New Dispensation, led by President Mnangagwa, which is committed to the philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.

“This bridge adds to the growing list of completed bridges in the Midlands Province, which includes Phoenix Dam Bridge in Mberengwa, Manhize Munyati Bridge in Chirumhanzu, and Gunguhwe Bridge in Gokwe North.

“Road infrastructure is an accelerator as we gravitate towards the attainment of an upper middle-income society earlier than 2030, underpinned by the devolution and decentralisation agenda, home-grown initiatives are being supported and harnessed to address local community challenges including road accessibility here in Gokwe South and other areas elsewhere.”

Spanning 120 metres, Chemusonde Bridge connects Gwehava-Sai Choto Road and is a key component of the Second Republic’s rural industrialisation initiative.

Its completion aligns with the broader goal of propelling the economy forward through the swift movement of people and goods, thereby enhancing service delivery, access to public services, and public administration.

“Accordingly, Chemusonde Bridge directly addresses community needs while at the same time fast-tracking tourism, trade, and investment through improved accessibility to markets in Gokwe Town, the Midlands Province and indeed the entire country at large,” said Cde Ncube.

“I am aware that communities from Chirisa and Sengwa Game Parks, Binga, and Nkayi are immensely benefitting from this milestone infrastructure project. Previously, communities would use alternative roads like Gaye and Mukwidza Mutsvuku, which are not trafficable, especially during the rainy season,” said the minister.

The bridge’s strategic location has significantly shortened travel distances to essential services such as clinics, schools and business centres, impacting numerous local institutions and villages.

“I urge all road authorities to complement bridge construction with the provision of state-of-the-art all-weather road infrastructure and emulate signature projects being implemented by the Second Republic that include, surfacing of Gokwe Town Council central business district roads through the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme,” Minister Ncube said.

Addressing the district’s susceptibility to gullies due to soil conditions, he directed the District Development Coordinator to ensure collaborative efforts among road authorities and private-sector partnerships, to bolster Government-funded road maintenance and rehabilitation efforts.

“The completion of Chemusonde Bridge, has come at an opportune time to enhance the delivery of food relief to our communities under the Government’s Food Deficit Mitigation Programme, given the imminent El Nino-induced drought.

“I urge all traditional leaders, councillors and other community leaders to comply with the Government position that no one should die of hunger by transparently identifying all deserving cases,” he said.

Minister Ncube said the Government will build more dams like the Defe Dam and continue to revitalise irrigation schemes to reduce the impact of climate change-induced droughts.

“To this end, relevant departments are working tirelessly to boost production and productivity in irrigation schemes such as Mange here in Gokwe South,” he said.