BY SAMUEL NJINGA
Chief Chilonga in Chiredzi district is breathing fire over the continuous use of Chilonga Bridge by motorists. He says that this has got adverse repercussions since water is now flowing above the low lying bridge.
“I am sounding a warning to motorists and other road users. It is that time of the year whereby we need to be vigilant as far as continuous use of the Chilonga Bridge is concerned. I am appealing to everybody. Stop using the Chilonga Bridge. Let`s resort to using Mupapa bridge as the alternative route when travelling between Chiredzi town and Chikombedzi” Said Chief Chilonga.
The bridge which lies low-level across the Runde River, provides the shortest route between Chiredzi town and Chikombedzi. It was swept away by the 2000 Cyclone Eline that wreaked havoc in the country thereby destroying it. Member of Parliament for Chiredzi South, Callisto Gwanetsa has long since promised to push for the rehabilitation of this bridge but in vain.
On the other hand government once announced that it had allocated 3.6 billion for the speedy construction of yet another modern bridge across the same river. Reliable sources told Hevoi FM News that this project was stifled due to technical hostilities emanating from the fact that the Runde river banks have got some weak soils that makes it difficult for the project.
This is not the first time that people are being forbidden to make use of this bridge. In May this year, Chiredzi District Civil Protection Unit chair and district development coordinator Lovemore Chisema announced the temporary closure of this bridge.
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