…as Government set to re-budget funds for Chilonga Bridge in 2026
By Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI- Communities in Chiredzi South could continue using their makeshift Chilonga Bridge across Runde River as governemnt promised to budget for the bridge in its 2026 budget.
Following the collapse of the existing Chilonga Causeway in March this year, which was constructed as a makeshift after the collapse of Chipinda Bridge in 2000, communities resorted to yet another indigenous way to temporarily enable them to cross to Chiredzi town.
The community rely on the town for several services services including the District Hospital, banks, National Registry among others.
This came out in parliament recently after Chiredzi Central Member of Parliament, Ropafadzo Makumire asked the Minister of Roads and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona to update the house on the Government plans to construct the bridge connecting Chiredzi Central to Chiredzi South.
Mhona indicated that a lot of work including planning and designs was involved and had to be carried out a number of times prolonging the timeframe and said a site five kilomentres from the bridge was identified.
“A site of five kilometers downstream from the causeway was identified but will require the power foundations and the length of the bridge will be 500 meters. Detailed designs of the superstructures are at an advanced stage and will be complete by mid-June 2025.
“Thereafter the bills of quantities and engineer’s estimates or budget will be prepared due to the limited internal capacity to undertake detailed foundation, which is the substructure designs by the Department of Roads, which is in the process of retooling or its soil testing laboratories. The projected cost for the new Chilonga Bridge is USD72 000 000.00 and will be included in the work program and budget for 2026,” said Mhona.
He said the planning of the bridge was taking time because of the type of soils in the area which were regarded as not strong enough.
“It is important to point out that Bridge projects are special by their nature and that they involve a number of processes in planning and design stages, the site selection process had to be carried out a number of times as the soil types in the area were not strong enough to support the loads that would be coming from the proposed bridge.
“Due to the fact that this process involves both topographical and geotechnical surveys to be carried out before the actual design of river works, substructures and superstructures can be embarked on it. It has taken some time for this project to be implemented,” said Mhona.
“Thereafter the bills of quantities and engineer’s estimates or budget will be prepared due to the limited internal capacity to undertake detailed foundation, which is the substructure designs by the Department of Roads, which is in the process of retooling or its soil testing laboratories. The projected cost for the new Chilonga Bridge is USD72 000 000.00 and will be included in the work program and budget for 2026,” said Mhona.
On Inyathi Road, which is the main road leading to Chiredzi Town branching from Ngundu-Tanganda highway through the city center to Hippo Valley Estates, Minister Mhona also indicated that the successful bidder’s costs were adjudged high and they needed to reconsider in order to begin works on the road refurbishment.
“A tender was flighted in 2024 to engage another contractor, unfortunately, when the evaluations were submitted to SPOC for review, the successful bidder’s price was adjudged to be on the higher side. The works are earmarked for tendering with the advert expected to be flighted this May,” said Mhona.
Inyathi road was under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Program (ERRP) and was left halfway after the contractor had cited delayed payments by the client after 2.2 kilometer was primed and other part was left at Base 1 level.
