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.
