… as financial hurdles delay progress
By Perpetua Murungweni
The long-stalled Mucheke and Chimusana Bridges projects have suffered another setback ,with construction crushing to an end due to financial challenges.
With Masvingo town having received first rains on the evening of October 23, continuous delays could draw back the work as rains could fill in excavations that had already been done at the two bridges.
Construction of the Mucheke Chevron Bridge and Chimusana Bridge commenced in June this year and was expected to be completed by next year February.
However, progress at both bridges seem to be slow and Ministry of Public works Engineer Shadreck Kativhu confirmed the slowing down of progress claiming it was due to financial challenges.
“Currently we are experiencing financial constraints, but will notify you once our funding situation improves. We are awaiting for disbursement of funds through the timelines are unclear,” said Kativhu.
Timelines remain a maze as responsible authorities are failing to provide information as well as the amount of money to be used for the projects. Kativhu refused to comment on completion timelines and way forward since they were struggling with finances before referring this reporter to Engineer Zindoga from the head office who also failed to comment referring questions back to Kativhu.
“Procedurally I am not allowed to comment on that, Engineer Kativhu can assist you,” said Zindoga
Ministry of Public Works 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 bridges.
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 then 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 and there is no progress.
