The Sunday News
Vincent Gono
THE Government has committed $700 000 towards the reconstruction of the Nkankezi Bridge in Insiza district, Matabeleland South that was swept away by the rains early this year as part of efforts to bring efficiency on the country’s road network.
Roads are part of the essential communication infrastructure and their not being in good shape retards both economic and social progress as goods, people and services cannot be moved from one place to another.
Mindful of the importance of a proficient road network in developing the country’s economy, the Government released $700 000 for the reconstruction of the bridge along the Mbalabala-Masvingo road that was made impassable by the Cyclone Dineo-induced rains that ravaged parts of the country’s Southern Region early this year.
The road links Bulawayo, Zvishavane, Masvingo and Mutare and is one of the country’s major roads.
A small, old, and low bridge was repaired and opened for temporary use by buses and cars although heavy vehicles are not using it. Matabeleland South Provincial Road Engineer Eng Dennis Mapfurira confirmed release of the amount for the reconstruction of the 48-year-old bridge, adding that work was already in progress on site.
“The Nkankezi Bridge is one of our major projects in the province. We are happy that we got the money for its reconstruction and its now work in progress. We expect it to be complete by the end of this month,” said Eng Mapfurira.
He said although the bridge was not the only one that was destroyed in the province, it was the biggest project that they were looking forward to completing. He said other small projects were being worked on as well. Eng Mapfurira said the Government contracted Forit Contracting to do the repairs.
House of Assembly Member for Insiza North constituency where the Nkankezi Bridge dutifully falls under Cde Andrew Langa thanked the Government for moving with speed to ensure the bridge was repaired to allow for free movement of goods and services. He said part of the amount was raised through public private partnerships where Mimosa, Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour, FBC bank and other stakeholders pulled together resources towards the construction of the bridge.
“Although the bridge is not the only one that was affected by floods in the district and even the province as a whole, it is our major priority because of its national importance. We lost a lot of infrastructure in the province and in my constituency we lost three community dams in Ward 17, Montrose dam in Ward 19 and another in Ward 20. After the rains officials in the Government came down to assess the situation from where we think priority was given to the Nkankezi Bridge,” said Cde Langa.
He added that the work that was done by the contractor on site had opened employment opportunities for the locals where about 50 villagers were working as general hands. Cde Langa said communities were also working on repairing some of the damaged infrastructure in their areas such as roads, schools and dams although resources were a problem.
Some of the infrastructure destroyed such as dams were used in sustaining the rural communities’ life through provision of water for gardening and to water animals while roads that link the villages to service centres were destroyed too. The reconstruction exercise comes in the wake of Government announcing the securing of $14,5 million for road rehabilitation as a direct response to increased road damages worsened by the rains that rendered most of the country’s roads difficult to travel on.
Most of the country’s roads are littered with potholes that have turned driving from the art it is to a torturous, painful and difficult exercise leading to an increase in road carnage. Minister for Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Jorum Gumbo said to date $14,5 million had been raised and distributed to urban and rural local authorities. He admitted, however, that despite the historical amounts of rainfall received this year in the country that swept away bridges and created small streams on graded roads, most of the country’s roads were old and crying out loud for resurfacing while most of their bridges have outlived their lifespan.
“Most of the country’s roads are in a bad state. Most tarred roads have outlived their 20-25 years lifespan. Some now have more than 60 years without being redone or resurfaced and as a result the tarmac layer has become so thin that potholes can easily form and spread,” Minister Gumbo added.
He said the rains only made the problem more apparent although Government was moving with speed to ensure that the roads were put in shape. He called on communities not to sit back and wait for the Government but to also mobilise resources and complement Government efforts.
Insiza South House of Assembly Member Cde Malachi Nkomo said it was those small things such as where domestic animals water, where villagers get water for gardens, where children cross to schools and where scotch carts could safely navigate their way that count in the rural communities and make life tick. He said as a result communities were working to ensure the small bridges were passable.
“The road between Mbondweni and Filabusi which falls under DDF is being massively done and widened. The Nkankezi Bridge (not the one along Masvingo-Mbalabala Road) along the same road is under construction and is now passable. The Kusile Bridge which is the one from Mahole to Mleja School was also done by the community and its now passable as well as the Silalatshani Bridge. The Government through Zinara allocated funds to local authorities and we are looking forward to all roads being done. For now we are happy that all roads and bridges now link the communities to Filabusi with no problem,” he said.
He paid tribute to the communities for not being difficult but collectively participated in the rehabilitation of roads and bridges saying it was that spirit that was required to develop the country. Dr Joram Gumbo said there were more bridges that were swept by the rains but some were small ones. He said priority was going to be given to major bridges.
“We have a number of roads and bridges not only in Matabeleland South but in the Midlands and Masvingo provinces too. We do not want people to suffer because in such situations some unscrupulous operators take advantage and make people pay with an arm and a leg because there will be no easy roads linking places.
Besides, our thrust to enhance communication and infrastructure was threatened but we will not allow ourselves to sit back and relax when things are this bad,” said Dr Gumbo.
He said the rains isolated a lot of areas from the rest of the country, adding that they were working to correct that.
Sunday News gathered that the Nkankezi Bridge is on route 509 and was built in 1969 by the department of roads.
The type of structure is RC beams and slab and is on chainage 172,4 km along Masvingo-Mbalabala.
It has two spans measuring 18,5 metres and one span measuring 18,7 metres. The department of roads is still the responsible authority. It could not, however, not be established when the small old bridge currently being used was constructed, but authorities deemed it fit for use by motorists.
