MILLICENT HUNGWE
MASHOKO, Bikita– The gravel road from Nyika to Mashoko Christian Hospital, passing through Nandi Matsvange and other parts of Zaka and Chiredzi districts, is in an extremely poor state, making access to the hospital and Mashoko High School difficult and dangerous.
This neglected stretch of road has become a major concern for patients, students, and transport operators alike, the issue affects healthcare delivery, emergency transfers, education access, and local business operations in the region.
Mashoko Christian Hospital Superintendent Evidence Masitoko raised concern over the deteriorating road condition, stating that the route is not only untarred but almost impassable, especially during the rainy season.
“The roads become muddy, slippery and at times completely blocked by flooded or damaged bridges,” he said.
He added that these conditions have caused significant delays in emergency patient transfers to Masvingo Provincial Hospital, affecting caesarians in critical situations such as maternity complications and trauma cases.
The Mid-week Watch confirmed the dire state of the road network around Mashoko Mission, revealing that it takes over two and a half hours to drive from Jerera or Nyika to Mashoko Mission using a Toyota D4D truck a journey that should ordinarily take far less than 30minutes, from Chiredzi, the trip can still stretch beyond two hours.
One concerned parent, speaking anonymously, lamented that while the hospital provides care for students at Mashoko High School, emergency cases are at the mercy of the hospital authorities who have to brave the broken road when transferring patients.
“It’s the hospital that suffers most when a child gets sick,” she said, “because they have to travel that terrible road.”
In response to mounting public pressure, Masvingo Province Road Engineer Augustine Chigwereve from the Ministry of Transport acknowledged the complaints and confirmed that the affected road known officially as the Nandi Matsvange Road is a gravel road slated for grading and spot regravelling in the third quarter of the year.
“Currently, we are working on roads in Chikombedzi, unfortunately, this road still needs a full upgrade to a surfaced road,” he said.
Despite these promises, Mashoko residents remain skeptical, especially business people and transport operators.
One commuter omnibus driver also lamented the state of the road and said it reduces his business to just one or two trips per day. “The road literally damages vehicles, you can’t make more than two trips, and that kills our income,” he complained.
As hope for rehabilitation looms in government plans, the people of Mashoko continue to face daily challenges, students struggle to access school, the hospital fights to save lives under pressure, and transporters count the cost of every journey.
Until action is taken, the road remains a dangerous barrier to essential services in the heart of Masvingo Province.
