By Brighton Chiseva
Parents in Mugomeri area of Ward 20 in Zaka are living in fear as Zibwowa Dam, now overflowing after the recent rains, poses a threat to the safety of their school-going children.
Daily, learners as young as five must brave the waters of Zinhuwa River, which flows downstream of the dam, going to Musarava Primary while older ones got to Tsiga Secondary Schools.
The sole crossing point is a flat bridge a few meters from the dam wall and spillway, where rushing waters pass through. Parents have to escort their young kids across, especially those in infant level disrupting their own farming schedules twice a day.
TellZim News visited the site and spoke to the guardians who appealed to relevant authorities to speed up construction of a school in the area so that their children escape the risk of crossing the river every day.
One parent only identified as Mbuya VaMona appealed to the authorities saying they should see that the school construction in Zimunhu area is completed to avert a possible danger posed by the dam.
“We appeal to relevant authorities to intervene and complete our school project because if the situation continues like this, we will lose children from this stream.
“We are no longer getting enough time in our fields because while others are going to work in the morning, we have to come here to make sure that our children cross safely. In the afternoon we have to come also and at times we have to pen the cattle and open them again after taking children from school,” she said
Another parent said the authorities were supposed to upgrade the bridge so that water does not flow over the bridge, or construct a suspended foot bridge at the crossing point.
“We appeal to authorities that they upgrade this bridge, because as we speak there is no bridge, it’s just a crossing point since the water flows on top of the concrete slab. They can at least put a foot bridge just to allow people to cross,” said the parent.
Ward 20 councilor Walter Masaka said the situation was hard for both parents and learners, saying despite the river challenge, the school was far, which affected learners especially those in infant level.
“The situation has been like that for a long time but in the yester years it was better because we used to have little rains the dam rarely spilled, however, this time around it’s a different story.
“It’s not only about the bridge, the school is a distant for people in ward 20, this affect leaners especially those in ECD and grade one to three,” said Masaka
He went on to say the school community project in Zimunhu village was being affected by lack of labor as parents were not willing to work despite the availability of resources but said they were targeting to open the school beginning of second term.
“We have our community school project and we haven’t finished the block though a few touch ups are needed. The block needs plastering and floors then window frames and window panes. We wanted to open it before we finished but the authorities said it was not allowed since the block will be used by infants, it had to have windows and floors.
“We are having labor challenges, the parents do not want to work, the Member of Parliament (MP) tried to mobilise for resources and we have cement on site that can be used for plastering but people are not willing. I appeal to other authorities to chip in and complement the already established efforts so that we finish off the block and start a new one,” said Masaka.
