MUSAVEZI River Bridge in Shurugwi is fast turning into a death trap as six vehicles have plunged into the river since last month when the Zupco Bus was swept away at the same spot killing four people.
A detour that was initially designed to allow small vehicles to pass, has since been turned into a busy road accommodating all forms of vehicles, including heavy trucks.
On Tuesday, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in the Midlands, Jason Machaya, led a team of engineers, top civil servants and other interested groups to assess the situation at the bridge.
He said it was important to make Shurugwi accessible and be linked with other parts of the district, province and country.
Machaya said the responsible authorities should speed up the reconstruction of Musavezi Bridge in the wake of the numerous accidents that have so far been recorded at the site since collapse of the tarred road on either side of the bridge.
He said: “The reports that we received of more accidents after the one involving the Zupco bus which was swept away recently killing four people are disturbing. This road is of economic value. It is our duty to ensure that we reduce accidents at this bridge.
“We have engaged members of the corporate world to assist. We have approached Sino Zimbabwe and they have promised to provide cement to repair the damaged road. Unki Mine among other big companies has also pledged to assist in the reconstruction of this road.”
More than $680,000 is required for the repair work. Midlands also requires $3.6 million for the reconstruction of roads and bridges in the two Gokwe districts and Shurugwi that were damaged by incessant rains received in most parts of the country.
Machaya said the government remained committed to reducing accidents on the country’s roads. He said the Musavezi River Bridge accidents were mainly due to lack of danger warning signs along the roads leading to the bridge.
“There have not been enough warning signs and other barricades that forewarn motorists who would be using the road for the first time,” Machaya said.
The police say six more accidents have occurred after the road caved in on both sides of the bridge and swept away a Zupco bus killing four people. The Zupco bus was travelling from Musina in South Africa going to Gokwe Town.
Two of the accidents involving a small car and T35 Mazda truck happened on Tuesday morning. A number of companies that are into sand mining have claims at Musavezi River and are suspected to be worsening the situation at the fallen bridge.
A source said the companies were extracting sand on areas close to the bridge, thereby weakening its supporting structures and the road. The source said the companies opened the temporary road, which passes through a long abandoned lower bridge.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has since declared the detour substandard and illegal. The Chronicle
