Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
MTSHABEZI River Bridge, which had been overflowing for more than 24 hours, has subsided, allowing motorists and pedestrians to cross once again.
The bridge was impassable on Tuesday due to heavy rains received in the area. By midday on Wednesday, vehicles and pedestrians were able to use the crossing, albeit with caution.
Youths from the surrounding area took advantage of the situation by assisting pedestrians to cross the bridge and helping them carry their luggage for a fee.
Persistent rains received in most parts of the country had left scores of people stranded after Mtshabezi Bridge in Gwanda District — one of the major entry points into the town — remained flooded throughout the day.
Some pedestrians were forced to use an unstable suspension footbridge to reach their destinations. Reports indicate that some lost their luggage after it fell into the water while attempting to cross.
Built in the 1980s, Mtshabezi Bridge links Gwanda town to several major mining operations, including Blanket Mine, as well as rural communities and the Maphisa area. At the time of its construction, the bridge was designed to serve a relatively small community.
Over the years, the expansion of Gwanda town, coupled with population growth and the establishment of mines, business centres and new settlements outside the town, has exerted pressure on the narrow, low-lying structure.
Residents have on several occasions called for the upgrading of the bridge, citing safety concerns. The bridge was last flooded to a similar extent in 2020 following heavy rains.
Dubbed a “death trap”, the bridge has recorded several accidents over the years, some of which claimed lives after motorists failed to navigate it properly.
There have also been incidents where vehicles were swept away after motorists attempted to cross the bridge while the Mtshabezi River was flooded.
The bridge, which can barely accommodate one vehicle at a time, often confuses motorists on which side has the right of way.
@DubeMatutu
