Feature Munyaradzi Musiiwa
A SOMBRE atmosphere engulfed the Shurugwi community when a Gokwe-bound Zupco bus plunged headlong into a gorge before being submerged and swept away after the road carved into an over-flowing river at Musavezi Bridge along the Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe road, killing four people on the spot.
The police sub-aqua unit had to be roped in to recover two bodies — that of an elderly woman and an 11-year-old girl that had disappeared after the bus was submerged.
Following the incessant rains received during the 2013-2014 rain season, approaches on both sides of the bridge gave in and collapsed, leaving motorists, cross-border traders from South Africa, and Malawi and Zambia-bound cross-border haulage trucks stranded.
All Beitbridge, Chiredzi and Masvingo-bound traffic was now going through Zvishavane after the road linking Shurugwi and Mhandamabwe was completely destroyed.
There were also encyclopaedic perspectives and assumptions over the causes for the collapse of the approaches.
Chief among them was that of sand abstraction activities which were being done across the bridge by Unki Mine contractors providing river sand to construction companies contracted to build houses for the platinum mine at Impali Farm.
Because of the highway’s economic value, the contractors resorted to constructing a makeshift bridge alongside the main bridge to allow stranded motorists to pass through.
This did not really help as more vehicles plunged into the ditches on both sides of the bridge as there were no warning signs on both sides of the road.
The Ministry of Transport chipped in and put a detour and warning signs on both approaches after more than 10 people had died at the same spot.
This dire situation was worsened in December last year as the bridge was overwhelmed by vehicles towards Christmas and New Year festivities, posing a serious danger to motorists after the two approaches of the makeshift bridge were eroded following the incessant rains.
The rains left two gullies on both sides of the bridge leaving motorists using a narrow path and giving each other turns to pass through.
Oblivious of the looming danger considering that it was the festive season and motorists, most of whom are Zimbabweans based in South Africa, would be using the road for the first time, a group of five boys from surrounding communities organised themselves and reclaimed the gullies using stones and gravel to save lives and assist stranded motorists.
Their efforts did not go unnoticed as motorists who appreciated the innovation by the young, concerned and responsible citizens would leave a dollar each while haulage trucks and cross-border buses would leave $2 each to incentivise the lads who had taken the responsibility to save lives and assist stranded motorists without ulterior motives.
According to the lads, they each take home at least $10 a day from the collections.
“What we realised was that the two approaches of the makeshift bridge were being eroded by water and were posing a danger to motorists using the Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe route.
“So as we herd our cattle we would take turns to reclaim the gullies using rocks, stones, gravel and quarry to enable motorists to pass through. Most motorists appreciate what we do here and some give us money.
“All haulage trucks and cross-border buses that pass by and see the work we have been doing give us $2 each while other small vehicles give us a dollar each,” said Tapiwa Mangoma (13) one of the boys.
Another boy said they had managed to raise school fees for the 2015 first term through the collections.
“Two of us are in primary school while three are in secondary. We have managed to raise school fees for all of us and also help our families meet other responsibilities that require money.
“However, we are not motivated by money because we do not force or demand money from motorists. They give us of their own will,” said Takunda Mangezi (11).
He added that schoolchildren use the same bridge when going to school usually during the rain season.
It is now over a year and nothing has been done to assist the stranded motorists and travellers in surrounding areas.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Jason Machaya recently called on responsible authorities to speed up the reconstruction of Musavezi Bridge in the wake of numerous accidents that have occurred at the bridge since the approaches on both sides of the bridge carved in last year.
The bridge requires over $680 000 to reconstruct the approaches that carved in on both sides of the bridge.
“We have received reports of more accidents after the one involving the Zupco bus which was swept away recently killing four people.
“This road is of economic value. It is our duty to ensure that we reduce accidents at this bridge.
“We have engaged members of the corporate world to provide any form of assistance. We have approached Sino-Zimbabwe and they have promised to provide cement for the reconstruction of the two approaches that carved in following heavy rains recently.
“Unki Mine among other big companies have pledged to assist in the reconstruction of this road.
“Our main aim is to reduce accidents because there have not been enough warning signs and other barricades that forewarn motorists who would be using the road for the first time,” he said.
According to police sources, there are more than six accidents that occurred after the road carved in on both sides of the bridge and swept away a Zupco bus killing four people.
Midlands Province also requires $3,6 million for the reconstruction of roads and bridges in Gokwe and Shurugwi that were affected by incessant rains that the country experienced last rainy season.