According to the villagers, at least 10 people die every year trying to cross the river during the rainy season.
The existing bridge is too low and floods in heavy rain, cutting villagers off from the town.
A community leader from Chilonga, James Musisinyani, said life in the villages was made more difficult when crossing the river was not possible.
“We are calling on the government to consider our plight because we need a bridge across the Runde River,” he said. “We have raised this issue many times but the government is not listening.”
According to the villagers, last year 12 people were swept away while trying to cross the river, as well as a tractor and a lorry.
“The tractor was swept away with the lorry it was pulling. Four people drowned on that day and now we are all too scared to attempt to cross the river,” Tiyani Lisenga, a teacher at Chilonga Primary school.
The road linking the Chilonga community to Chiredzi is in need of repair and the government has promised on several occasions to address the issue.
Masvingo provincial administrator, Felix Chikovo, said plans to upgrade the
Chilonga Bridge were hampered by lack of funds.
“We are aware of this problem and we can not do anything because we have no funds to construct a new bridge,” said Chikovo.
Post published in: News