By Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – The first known casualty of the Mashate-Shonganiso- Chenhuwe low-lying bridge that connects Matsikidze area, Shonganiso Mission and the Majiri area was recorded in 1970 and several other cases followed but up to now, no action has been taken to upgrade the bridge.
Research suggests the bridge was constructed around 1920, as corroborated by elderly people in the area, with one community member born in 1930 saying the bridge was already there when he was born, adding that he grew up hearing that it was constructed by a Greek man called Trycose.
Many decades later, after seeing that the bridge had become a perennial death trap, the community came together and formed a community development committee in 2023, chaired by one Mugove Matindike Vhudzijena who said they contracted engineers to do a survey and infrastructural designs.
“We contracted engineers who did a survey, and structural designs were done at a cost of US$ 30,000. This amount was raised by well-wishers and the cost of constructing the bridge is estimated at US$1.8 million.
“We wrote to the Minister of State Cde Ezra Chadzamira who has since approved the construction of the bridge and I am sure he has written a recommendation letter to the Ministry of Transport, we hope that the bridge will be constructed,” said Vhudzijena.
Speaking to TellZim News, Chief Murinye born Ephias Munodawafa whose area is on the other side of the bridge said construction of a new bridge was something that was supposed to be prioritized owing to the number of deaths recorded and the economic activities that were affected by the bridge.
Murinye said the bridge was of economic importance as it links the people of Majiri who would be travelling to areas like Mashate, Renco Mine, Morgenster Mission Hospital, Nemamwa and Masvingo Town.
“We have been appealing since time immemorial for the upgrading of that bridge; several lives were lost together with a lot of other properties. People lost opportunities and other services because of that bridge because if it rains, the water overflows and no one can pass through.
“We appeal to all authorities to intervene and address the issue before we lose more. Some pupils come from the other side to attend school at Shonganiso Mission who at times spend the whole week missing school when it is raining.
“Now that there is a clinic, someone might die less than a kilometre across the bridge because they would have failed to pass to get to Shonganiso Clinic,” said Murinye.
He went on to say at the inception of his reign as chief, he had a project where he wanted people to construct a canal to take water from Mutirikwi to Majiri because the river was passing through the area to water sugarcane plantations in the Lowveld.
He said he also engaged Tongaat Hullets which promised to construct three foot bridges along the river but the programme failed when the then boss left the company.
“When I took over as Chief Murinye, I was worried about the number of people who died in the river which had little benefit to the community even though it passed through our area. I then engaged Tongaat Hullets which promised to construct three foot bridges across the river at least to cross but the project died when the then CEO Mutsambiwa left.
“I think I need to engage the current leadership with the idea and see if they can assist because it is a commitment that was made by the company not an individual,” said Murinye
He further said there were plans by the community which had done designs of the new bridge and the bill of quantities was done but there were no funds to kick start the project.
Another local village head Herikanos Chisina said the river was silted and it was getting worse every year with the river bed closing the bridge openings making it easily overflow.
He said the only solution was to construct a new bridge otherwise people would continue losing lives and property.
“The river is silted and the situation worsens every year, if nothing is done the bridge will be covered in sand worsening the situation. We have lost many people, animals and other properties and if nothing is done urgently then we are doomed.
“We appeal to authorities to treat this issue with urgency because we are likely going to see more lives being lost at Mutirikwi River.
Headman Chibwe born Samuel Matambo weighed in saying there was need for urgent attention saying a lot of lives were being lost with people failing to cross the river during rainy seasons.
Zivezano High School Head Joseph Hungwe said more than 150 learners came from across the river and use the bridge during the rainy season and often get stuck on either side of the bridge when it rains.
“We have more than 150 learners who come from across Mutirikwi who get stuck on either side of the river depending on the time the river gets flooded. Sometimes they miss school for a week or more when it is flooded.
“During exam time, some will be forced to stay this side under unfavourable conditions trying to make sure they won’t be stuck on the other side and miss exams so we really appeal to authorities to intervene and save the situation,” said Hungwe.
The bridge is the linkage crossing point of Mushawasha and Murinye communal areas, where Mutirikwi River passes through to the Lowveld sugar plantations. Economic, social and spiritual functions are facilitated through this passage.
The clinic also becomes inaccessible affecting expecting mothers and other members of the community who come from Mushawasha up to Mashate area.
Transport becomes a nightmare as no vehicles can pass through at all with alternatives being kilometres away during the rainy season.
The bridge also links the Mushawasha-Murinye with Zaka-Jerera areas enroute to Chiredzi hence facilitating other economic activities between the mentioned areas.
Unofficial statistics suggest that 11 people have since died on the bridge, including a new couple that was coming from Zaka going to Mushawasha.
In 1970, one man named Mazodze who was coming from Majiri to Chirambamurivo across the bridge was swept away and died. History also has it that in 1977 a piece of the bridge was damaged to stop the Rhodesian army from crossing during the liberation war.
In 1978 another man named Vhudzijena who was an in-law to the Zvobgo family, having married the late Eddison Zvobgo’s sister died trying to cross the river while another one named Moses Mashenjere died under the same circumstances in 1982.
In 1990, two fatalities of Jasi Rutungo and Gabriel Makuvire were recorded.
No casualty was recorded for the next 10 years until the death of two people from Matindike and Chandikwisa families and the bodies were exchanged for burial but the crisis was quickly solved.
In 2001 a woman named Chipo Masvosve was swept away and an ox-drawn cart from Chineka family was swept away together with the animals in the same year.
The last recorded casualty was of Sungano Mukapa who died at the bridge in 2017.
