By Perpetua Murungweni

After years of false starts, Mucheke and Chimusana bridges refurbishment seems to be taking shape but the timelines remain a maze as responsible authorities are failing to provide information on the progress as well as the amount of money to be used for the projects.
The commencement of construction on two bridges had brought relief and renewed hope to the people of Masvingo who remain eager to know when the projects will be completed and the set budget, with the rainy season fast approaching.
Traffic congestion is a common feature on the highway, with long and winding vehicle queuing the stretch from the Central Business District (CBD) to Masvingo Polytechnic during peak hours of the day affecting traffic flow.
Ministry of Public works Engineer Shadreck Kativhu refused to comment on the progress of the Mucheke and Chimusana Bridges saying that public works department was only responsible with the monitoring of the project.
“I cannot comment on the progress of the project because as public works we are only responsible with monitoring and maintaining the project, nothing more. The person who can comment on that is the provincial roads engineer,” said Kativhu.
Masvingo Provincial roads Engineer Augustine Chingwereve, referred the reporter back to Eng. Kativhu claiming that he could not comment on the matter because he was on leave.
“I am on leave at the moment and I cannot comment on the issue, please contact Eng. Kativhu to assist you,” said Chingwereve.
Kativhu once again referred questions to one Engineer Zindoga from the head office who also failed to comment and referred questions to the secretary for transport.
“Such request should be sent to the secretary for transport, she is the one who then assigns an engineer to help her respond,” said Zindoga.
Secretary for Transport Joy Makumbe also declined to comment and said she had forwarded the request to the publicity officer Judith Nhau.
“I forwarded your request to the publicity officer Judith Nhau, please follow up with her,” Makumbe said.
Nhau answered the phone once before dropping the call and the number kept saying busy several times later.

A routine report seen by this publication however indicated that the construction of the Mucheke Chevron Bridge was expected to be completed in February 2025 and gave an outline of the three bridges.
“Three bridges are now being built across the Mucheke River Bridge on the Harare-Masvingo Beitbridge Road in Masvingo. The first bridge is under construction next to the Chevron Hotel. The other two bridges will form part of the north and southbound carriageways of the Masvingo City Bypass at Chimusana.
“Mucheke Chevron Bridge is a 60 m-long double-lane bridge forming the northbound carriageway of a new 4-lane dual carriageway across the Mucheke River. The old bridge will form part of the southbound carriageway. Construction of the Mucheke Chevron Bridge commenced in June 2024 and is scheduled for completion in February 2025.
“Chimusana structures consist of two new double-lane bridges, each 74m long, forming a 4-lane dual carriageway on the Masvingo City Bypass. The western bridge will carry northbound traffic, while the eastern bridge will carry southbound traffic. Construction of these two bridges commenced in August 2024 and is scheduled to be completed in May 2025,” read the report.
The report added that the construction of the bridge was going to ease congestion in the CBD, as traffic with no business in town will be able to use Chimusana to avoid mixing with city traffic.
“Construction of the bridges is going to benefit Masvingo City by decongesting the CBD. Traffic with no business in the city will be able to bypass the town and avoid mixing with the slower city traffic.
“Decongesting the city means, smooth traffic flow in the city and this will reduce vehicle idling time while waiting to drive across the bridge, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint. Pedestrian traffic will have wider foot walks and be separated from vehicular traffic by physical barriers, enhancing pedestrian safety,” the report read.
In their 2012/13 budget, Masvingo City Council had proposed US$800 000 for the widening of Chimusana Bridge and in 2014 council then indicated that the same project needed at least US$2.5million. The council, then under the late Town Clerk Adolf Gusha claimed that the money that was proposed in the 2012 council budget was never collected as residents failed to pay their bills.
In 2018, government cancelled a tender to modernize the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway that had been awarded to Austrian firm, Geiger International and awarded it to five local companies namely Masimba Holdings, Exodus and Company, Fossil Contracting, Bitumen World and Tensor.
In 2022 Masimba Construction Company was the contracted to construct additional bridges on Mucheke River in Masvingo which were aimed at reducing congestion along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP 2).
Recently, Masimba Holdings issued a notice on the closure to traffic of Chimusana bridge starting from September 17, saying it was meant for the continuation of the Harare-Beitbridge roadworks, but to date, the bridge is yet to be closed.

By Tatiana Mhararira

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered with Mwenezi Development Training Centre (MDTC) to support vulnerable households in Chiredzi through the El Nino-induced Drought Response and Adaptation for Rural Communities Project worth more than US$960 000.
The project will benefit 8 600 individuals and around 33 700 livestock living in wards 10, 13, 14 and 15 of Chiredzi district.
The project seeks to enhance access to water, sanitation and hygiene services for members of the community. The project will also improve livestock productivity, accessing markets and increasing incomes to mitigate the challenges faces by these El Nino induced drought.
Chiredzi district is located in Lowveld which lies in natural region 5 was negatively affected by El Nino induced drought which reduced crop yields and this drought caused the villagers in the drought stricken area to suffer from hunger.
The MDTC project’s main agenda includes rehabilitating 15 boreholes with nine of them being converted to solar powered allowing women and girls to get access to clean water and travel short distances to fetch water.
In a press release released by MDTC it said there will be a training session for community members on water point management and promotion of good hygiene.
“To support long term sustainability, the project will provide training for water point user committees (WPUCs) and community members who manage the use of the pump, on the operation and maintenance of water points.
“The project will promote good sanitation and hygiene among 750 individuals, establish 15 community health clubs and promote latrine construction at household levels to reduce open defecation.
Mwenezi Development Training Centre Executive Director, Promise Makoni said MDTC is proud to be first partners to receive donations from USAID.
“MDTC is proud to be the first local non-governmental organisation to receive successive awards from USAID.MDTC is grateful for the continued support and partnership with USAID, which has enabled it to improve the livelihoods of thousands of vulnerable families in Chiredzi, ”said Makoni.
The Lowveld is popularly known for producing small grains such as sorghum and millet and the area receives rainfall below 650mm annually, and 2024 harvesting season has led the region to get low yields with the drought being the catalysts of hunger.

By Virginia Njovo

For the third time, Lake Mutirikwi mini hydropower station, initially slated for completion in September, missed yet another deadline, with officials now reporting a 98percent completion and giving end of October as the new deadline.
A pattern of delays continue to plague the power station, with the project missing its third deadline, initially set for end-of-July completion, then August, and it’s not clear if they will manage to meet the October deadline.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa told TellZim News that the power plant was at 98 percent complete and final touches were being done for it to be commissioned, after construction started in March 2022.
“The 5 MW power plant is now at 98 percent completion, final touches are being done at the site so that it can be commissioned and start to benefit the nation and Masvingo Province at large,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
Project coordinator Hubert Chifumbu concurred with Dr Pazvakavambwa and said they were expecting to finish the project by the end of October 2024 as there were some technical issues which are being rectified at the site.
“We are currently doing final touches, we are now doing dry commissioning, wet commissioning and after the process the station will now join the national grid and we expect to be done by the end of October 2024,” said Chifumbu.
In August 2024 Chifumbu indicated that the progress was delayed due to the downstream requirements which were supposed to be met and they expected to commission the plant in September.
The 5MW Lake Mutirikwi Hydro power station is expected to generate power to be fed in the national grid as a way to reduce the on-going power cuts.
Regardless of the fact that Masvingo Province has over 10 000 dams which translates to 60 percent of inland water bodies in the country, the province is among the affected areas by the on-going power cuts which are said to be caused by the decreasing of Kariba Dam Water levels.

By Precila Takabvirakare

For Our Children (FOC) Organization recently launched a fundraising campaign aimed at raising money to drill a borehole at Domborembavha High School in Ward 22, Gutu.
The launch was done on October 4 in Gororo village under Chief Nesongano.
FOC founder and director Sissy Chinhamo said they came up with the fundraising idea after receiving a request from Domborembavha school head who said they did not have water at the school.
“We came up with this program after receiving a request from the school head who said they were walking more than three kilometres to the nearest water point.
“We sat down as an organization and decided to engage former Domborembavha high learners to contribute towards the drilling of the borehole. Our target is to raise US$4000 in three months and each person is expected to contribute US$40.
“So far we got hold of a few people and we managed to raise about US$342 and if all goes well by the end of the year we would have reached the target,” said Chinhamo.
The school head Edward Mashiri said they were looking forward to the project being successful as teachers were now resorting to bathing in the nearby river.
“We approached FOC with our problem and they said they could make use of former learners to help raise the money and our eyes are on the success of this programme. Lack of water is greatly affecting the school as teachers and learners are transferring. This year alone we had three teachers and 17 learners transferring from the school.
“The water situation is also affecting us to do other projects like agriculture and that was affecting the practical side of other learning areas,” said Mashiri.
Ward 22 councilor Elizabeth Simbanegavi appreciated FOC’s efforts in helping the school.
“I am very happy with the programme and I pray it goes well for our teachers and learners to get clean water. Some were leaving the school because of water problems so I believe if the programme succeeds we will see minimum transfers,” said Simbanegavi.
The organization also donated exercise books and sanitary pads to 30 learners who are its beneficiaries.

By Staff Reporter

Renco Mine workers have remained resolute, insisting they will only return to work once all outstanding dues are settled as their stay-away protest has entered the third day despite the mine’s promise to pay half of July’s salary.
The mine workers downed tools on Wednesday October 09 and held out for full payment of their three months’ outstanding wages before they could resume work.
Sources said Mine Manager Irvine Taurayi Nyamukondiwa was now playing the middle man role after the worker’s committee was dissolved last week through a vote of no confidence.
“We will remain resolute and this time we are not going to bend until we get our salaries, if the mine is not producing enough to cover salaries then why should they continue operating, let them close or sell to another investor.
“The current strike is different from the previous ones where we used to have the worker’s committee leading the negotiation. Now the manager negotiates with the head office and speak to the general workers,” one of the workers said anonymously.
Another source said on Thursday two mine captains were chased away after they tried to access their offices as the workers called for a total shutdown except for essential services.
“We have closed down all offices, this is a total shut down and the message is very clear; if they do not pay our dues we are not going back to work. Today two senior employees were chased away after trying to get into their offices. We only allow the essential services to work like the clinic staff, sanitation and water treatment,” said the source.
The industrial action comes barely a month after another one that took place in September and was prompted by a local spirit medium who had said if the operations continue without workers getting salaries people will die in the mine.
The medium gave some time frame and within the days, one worker died in an accident at work forcing workers to down tools fearing for their lives.
They only returned to work after negotiations with the local traditional leaders including headman Muchibwa.