Chinotimba Calls For Urgent Road Action: Villagers Weary of False Hope

BUHERA SOUTH-The fierce tropical storms that have ravaged the Eastern parts of the
country over the past three years have reportedly swept away bridges and left roads
impassable in Manicaland’s second hardest hit district, Buhera South.
Such destruction has reportedly cut off the constituency from the rest of the country leaving
villagers stranded and forced to travel over 40 km to access food and farming inputs.
Some villagers in areas such as Chabata and Bhegedhe have to walk close to 40 km to get
transport to ferry them either to Birchenough Bridge or Murambinda Growth Point
Buhera South legislator, Joseph Chinotimba confirmed the sorry state of road network in the
constituency and called for urgent intervention on the Murambinda- Birchenough Bridge
Road which had been expected to take shape this year.
“This project has been on the cards for a very long time and people are getting weary of
empty promises. The Cyclone Idai disaster was a wake-up call to all on the urgent need for
proper road network and infrastructure. As such I continue calling upon Government for the
urgent actioning of the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge road,” said Chinotimba.
He said despite major focus being on the rehabilitation of the major routes, most roads in
Buhera South were in a deplorable state forcing children to miss a day or two of school
during the rainy season as a result of flooded rivers and impassable roads.
“Most roads are impassable as bridges were swept away. The most affected bridges were
Nyadi and Defe. Smaller bridges linking Muzokomba and Mabhoko, Mutiusinazita and
Chapanduka, as well as Bhegedhe and Chabata were also swept away and this has left
villagers in a quandary,” said Chinotimba.
The legislator also highlighted with concern the interruptions in learning at Bhegede and
Nyadi schools during rainy seasons as the schools close down during heavy downpours and
learning only resumes as water levels subdue.
“Bhegede and Nyadi schools are really schools of concern once the rainy season commences.
Depending on the magnitude of rainfall, these schools are always forced to close down for a
minimum of two days as the pupils are unable to access the schools as a result of poor roads
and destroyed bridges,” he added.