-no money for Mucheke Bridge construction, Ministry
MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO CITY-Masvingo residents are up in arms against the authorities for taking a lackadaisical approach to the construction of new Mucheke Bridge and upgrading of the alternative age old Chimusana Bridge.
The laissez-faire approach has been laid bare as the incessant rains have caused untold suffering to road users in Masvingo and those in transit.
The residents, who spoke to The Midweek Watch lambasted the responsible authorities and said they should exhibit the same zeal that they are showing when pushing for the ED2030 agenda to end the congestion woes that have bedeviled the ancient city for more than a decade now whenever the rainy season is upon us.
“The ruling party leadership in this province is at the forefront of calling on President Mnangagwa to stay beyond 2028 and they are very energetic when advancing the agenda, we kindly request them to be equally energetic when pushing for the Mucheke Bridge construction,” said a resident who identified herself as Cde Gwizi for fear of victimization.
Another resident echoed the same sentiments and said authorities should not focus on 2030 and get down to business to solve current problems.
“Zve2030 tovona taakusvikako, there are four years before President Mnangagwa’s term of office comes to an end and we are busy talking about 2030 when we have difficulties crossing our own bridge which is less than a kilometer away. Ngavatinzwirewo tsistsi veduwee tayuwira kubhadhara dollar kupinda mutown, dollar kubuda haisi nyore, tawomegwa tihwireiwo ngoni vatungamiriri.
“Imagine an Ambulance with a life threatening case trying to negotiate the traffic jam, munhu anofa asati asvika ichingochema pabridge ipapo,” said another resident who declined to be named.
Commuter omnibuses are cashing in on the congestion and charge a dollar to get in or out of town as they argue that they are doing less trips and may incur losses if they don’t capitalize on the crisis.
“Machinda angu things are tight, we have no option except to charge a dollar for one way trip whenever there is congestion at Mucheke Bridge, ngavagadzire bridge and everything will fall in place kwete kuswera mumaoffice.
“We have no option except to pass on the burden to commuters by charging them more because we only make few trips during these rainfall induced congestions,” said Amos Gavhura a tout at Glow Petroleum Rank.
Masvingo United Residents and Rate Payers Alliance also weighed in and said they are worried by the deterioration of the state of Mucheke Bridge.
“It is with profound consternation that we address the ongoing deterioration and resultant congestion at Mucheke Bridge, an infrastructure entity falling under the purview of the Ministry of Roads.
“The current state of disrepair has escalated to an alarming degree, with erstwhile potholes having now metamorphosed into veritable dish-shaped cavities, necessitating immediate and comprehensive remedial intervention.
“Furthermore, we earnestly implore the government to expedite the construction of the Chimusana Bridge, a project currently being executed by the contractor, Masimba Holdings. In our capacity as concerned residents, we have formally engaged the Honorable Advocate Mureri, the esteemed Member of Parliament for Masvingo Urban who has since formally engaged the Government,” said MURRA board chairman Thomas Mbetu.
Masvingo Urban MP Martin Mureri has proposed to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development an extended working period in order to expedite the construction of the crucial bridge.
“I propose that your office should consider this as a matter of urgency in any case to embark on the pothole filling over the night when the volume of traffic decreases. I also propose that the works at the bridge should be expedited and increase pace when construction commences, such stagnant projects notwithstanding the causes of delay may have adverse effects on the quality of a structure under construction.
“Considering how important that project is to the community and the nation, the contractor must set up systems to work 24 hours at the site to complete the work. The quality of pothole patching that was done at that bridge recently left the situation in a very bad state and I implore that such works must be done professionally taking into cognizance that this is a public road under your jurisdiction. Any sub-standard work would give a very bad picture of the ministry,” wrote Mureri to the ministry recently.
On Monday the Minister of State for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira promised to convene an emergency meeting to address challenges at the bridge and promised to come back.
Efforts to reach him later in the day and on Tuesday (11/2/25) were unsuccessful as his mobile phone was not being picked until the time of posting the story.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport’s deputy director construction Engineer Virginia Mawere told The Midweek Watch that there is no money for the construction of the bridge and the rehabilitation of the remaining 77km on the Masvingo Beitbridge road.
She said the construction cost of the bridge is pegged at US$3, 5million and the remaining 77km require US$125million for the works, money which is not available.
“The construction of Mucheke River Bridge is part of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Road upgrading works. The works shall resume once funds have been availed,” responded Eng Mawere.
