Chilonga Bridge
Thembinkosi Ncube
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has secured US$3 million for the rehabilitation of Chilonga Bridge in Chiredzi South, TellZim News has learnt.
This was revealed by Masvingo Provincial Administrator (PA) Fungai Mbetsa on Monday during a local radio interview.
If it materialises, the development will come as a relief for the many villagers who need to cross the vast Runde River all year round, including in the rainy season when the bridge gets flooded more often than not.
Mbetsa said US$500 000 had already been released to the engineer so that work could start as soon as possible.
He however said there were two options on the table; either to revive the low-lying Chilonga Bridge or rebuild Chipinda Bridge which was swept away Cyclone Eline in 2000.
The PA also said that the bigger part of the provincial road network was in bad state especially in rural areas.
Despite the enormous size of the work in hand, Mbetsa said, Rural District Councils (RDCs) remain inadequately capacitated, with many of them having one grader on average.
