Floods wash away key Mberengwa bridge, thousands stranded

Heavy floods have swept away the Jeka–Chegato Bridge across the Mwenezi River in Mberengwa North District, cutting off a vital transport link and leaving thousands of villagers stranded.

The bridge connected communities in Mberengwa West, North and South to Matabeleland South Province and served as a key route for the movement of people, goods and essential services.

This is not the first time the bridge has been destroyed by floods. It was previously washed away by floodwaters triggered by Cyclone Dineo about eight years ago, which caused widespread destruction across Zimbabwe, including in Mutare, Chiredzi, Mberengwa and Beitbridge.

Following the earlier disaster, the Government carried out temporary rehabilitation works in 2018, installing new planks and steel reinforcements to restore access to the district.

The latest floods have once again left a trail of destruction across the district, with at least 40 houses destroyed and villagers losing groceries and other valuables.

Children are now unable to attend school, transport services have been halted and patients are struggling to access medical care.

Mberengwa District Development Co-ordinator Vafios Hlabati said persistent rains had severely damaged roads and bridges across the district.

"The district is being hit by incessant rains, which have badly damaged our roads and bridges across the district," he said.

"Communication is completely shattered, people cannot visit clinics or go to civil registry offices to acquire essential documents or burial orders in case of a funeral within the family."

Hlabati said the Government had moved quickly to provide food aid to affected villagers as the flooding continues.

"The situation is dire, and we are doing our best to provide relief to those affected," he said.

He urged residents to exercise caution and avoid attempting to cross flooded rivers and bridges.

"We call upon our people to refrain from crossing flooded rivers and bridges. They should not seek shelter from under trees," Hlabati said.

Meanwhile, Mberengwa Rural District Council chief executive officer Thompson Maeresera described the destroyed bridge as a strategic asset for the district.

"The bridge serves the entire Mberengwa area and connects it to Matabeleland South Province, making it a strategic bridge," he said.

"This bridge is crucial for investment and growth of Mberengwa's local economy and learning of its demise has brought about sorrow and distress to us who appreciate its value."

Maeresera said the bridge's importance goes beyond transport, as it plays a key role in unlocking economic opportunities and improving livelihoods in the district.

Villagers have appealed for urgent assistance to rebuild the bridge and repair damaged infrastructure once the rains subside.

Meanwhile, traffic was also disrupted for nearly an hour at Shangani Bridge along the Gweru–Bulawayo Highway on Sunday afternoon after floodwaters submerged the bridge.

Tarisai Mudadigwa, the district development coordinator for Gweru, said the bridge flooded for the first time in recorded history.

He said the area bordering Midlands Province recorded more than 170mm of rainfall within nine hours.

"Traffic was interrupted for about an hour as especially small vehicles going from Shangani failed to cross the flooded river. Traffic movement resumed after the floods receded after about an hour," Mudadigwa said.