Online Reporter
George Maponga-Masvingo Bureau
A NEW causeway bridge at Chilonga across the Runde River in southern Chiredzi is set to be commissioned next month, bringing relief to communities in Chikombedzi and the greater Chiredzi District.
The Chilonga bridge provides the shortest link between Chiredzi Town, the district capital, and the southern parts of the district, including Chikombedzi and Malipati.
The old structure was extensively damaged by floods on the Runde River late last year, and travellers between Chiredzi Town and Chikombedzi have been forced to use alternative routes via Mpapa or Rutenga after the Chilonga bridge was closed in July this year to pave the way for the construction of a new causeway bridge.
Government released ZiG30 million for the construction of the causeway.
Chiredzi District Development Coordinator Mr Lovemore Chisema yesterday said the new bridge was tentatively scheduled for commissioning next month.
“We have set a provisional date for the commissioning of the new causeway bridge at Chilonga at the end of next month, but we will continue to monitor progress on the ground to determine whether it is feasible to meet that target. As of now, nothing has changed,” said Mr Chisema.
“I will soon be leading a technical team to assess progress on the construction works at Chilonga, and the team will include the district engineer. We are optimistic that the contractor will meet the completion target following the release of ZiG30 million.”
Mr Chisema said the new causeway bridge would bring relief to Chiredzi, as farmers and ordinary travellers would be able to travel more quickly and cheaply between Chiredzi Town and the southern part of the district.
He hailed the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa for addressing the Chilonga bridge challenge.
Communities in southern Chiredzi had resorted to using homemade canoes to cross the river at Chilonga, and Mr Chisema warned against the practice, saying it was dangerous.
“I also want to appeal to communities across Chiredzi to avoid resorting to unsafe means of crossing the Runde River, such as using homemade canoes, as they are risking their lives.
“We are appealing to our people to use safer crossing points, either through Gonarezhou National Park or the all-weather bridge at Mpapa in Triangle.”
The Chiredzi District Civil Protection Committee has carried out a series of awareness campaigns urging communities on both sides of the Runde River to desist from using unsafe modes of transport to cross the perennial and crocodile-infested river.
Over the past few years, many people have lost their lives after drowning while attempting to cross the Runde River at the Chilonga low-level bridge, making the structure a notorious black spot.
The Chilonga bridge became the shortest route linking Chikombedzi and Chiredzi Town after the all-weather Chipinda Pools Bridge was swept away by cyclone-induced floods at the turn of the millennium.
Plans to repair or rebuild the structure have been hampered by a lack of funding.
