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Midlands Bureau
REHABILITATION of roads and causeways that were recently damaged by heavy rains in Gokwe North in Midlands has started.
Many roads and bridges in Gokwe North and parts of Gokwe South were damaged by floods following heavy and continuous rains recently.
Following the heavy rains, some rivers broke their banks, with communities along Ume River in Gokwe North district being the worst affected. There was some loss of crops and livestock, and damage to homes, schools, clinics and other key infrastructure in the district.
Some bus companies plying routes in the area have withdrawn their buses citing inaccessibility.
Several schools and homes in the districts also collapsed along with the roads and bridges that were damaged.
Property worth thousands of dollars, including stationery and building material at Mutimuri Primary and Secondary schools in Gokwe North’s Ward 9 under Chief Chireya, were damaged.
Gokwe North district development coordinator Mr Martin Musakanda, who also heads the District Civil Protection Unit, recently said most of the roads in the area were extensively damaged by floods.
“We have already started rehabilitation of the roads and bridges courtesy of the devolution funds and the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP).
“The bridges being rehabilitated include Kaongo Bridge. In the Kuwirirana area, we have the GMB and Mutora roads and in Nyamhara we have Zumba road that is being rehabilitated,” he said.
Mr Musakanda said Ward 9, which was the worst affected, is inaccessible as roads are not usable.
“Plans are underway to visit the ward so that there is an appreciation of what is on the ground and assessment of the scope of work that needs to be done,” he said.
Gokwe-Chireya legislator, Cde Torerayi Moyo, said they were also working on relocating Mutimuri Primary and Mutimuri Secondary schools.
“These schools are in a low lying area and plans are already in place to relocate them and suitable sites have since been identified. We will be using part of the Constituency Development Fund money to build classroom blocks for the two schools,” he said.
Cde Moyo said the heavy rains damaged bridges and roads.
“The heavy rains resulted in flooding that destroyed our roads and bridges, restricting people from travelling. Government is alive to the situation and will be rehabilitating the infrastructure bit by bit until all areas are accessible,” he said. Gokwe North is one of the most remote districts in the Midlands.
The Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa has been investing in road, health and educational infrastructure in the district in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), and the development agenda of leaving no one and no place behind.
Chief Chireya said the rehabilitation of roads and bridges is critical for villages to access Chitekete and Gokwe town for goods and services.
“We are looking forward to this programme because some villagers have been stuck in their areas. Government should quickly rehabilitate the roads and bridges so that villagers’ lives return to normal,” he said.
Online Reporter