Communities in Mberengwa are facing growing isolation after floods once again damaged the Jeka–Chegato Bridge across the Mwenezi River, cutting off access to essential services including schools, health facilities, and transport routes.
The bridge, a critical link serving residents in Mberengwa West, North and South, has been rendered unsafe following heavy rains that swept through the district, compounding structural weaknesses caused by previous flooding incidents.
For many villagers, everyday activities such as attending school, visiting clinics, or travelling to nearby business centres have become difficult and, in some cases, dangerous.
Ward 15 resident Omega Zhou said the situation is already disrupting education as children struggle to cross the swollen river.
“People now have to look for alternative routes, which are not safe, and this is affecting school attendance,” she said.
The crossing had previously undergone temporary repairs after suffering major damage during floods associated with Cyclone Dineo in 2017. However, recurring heavy rains have continued to weaken the structure, leaving communities vulnerable each rainy season.
Related Stories
Local authorities report that the impact extends beyond the bridge, with several roads across the district now in poor condition, further restricting mobility and access to services.
Mberengwa District Development Coordinator Vafios Hlavati confirmed that government has released funding to support emergency rehabilitation efforts.
“Most parts of the district have become difficult to access because roads and bridges were destroyed by the incessant rains. We are now working to repair the affected infrastructure,” he said.
Emergency recovery efforts are also receiving support from Mberengwa Central legislator Tinashe Shumba, who has provided 5,000 litres of diesel and 600 bags of cement to assist ongoing repair works.
According to Hlavati, the legislator has pledged additional resources to sustain rehabilitation in the worst-affected areas as authorities race to restore connectivity before further rains deepen the crisis.
Beyond immediate recovery, the district may see longer-term improvements in road infrastructure through private sector investment.
The Sandawana Lithium Mine, operated under Mutapa Energy Minerals, has begun tarring the road linking York Business Centre to the mining site — a development expected to improve accessibility and economic activity in parts of Mberengwa.
For now, however, residents remain confronted with disrupted livelihoods and limited access to essential services, highlighting the recurring vulnerability of rural infrastructure to extreme weather events.
Leave Comments