Roads, bridges top priority: Ncube The rehabilitated Bhekaphezulu Bridge that was commissioned in Brunapeg last week
The rehabilitated Bhekaphezulu Bridge that was commissioned in Brunapeg last week

The rehabilitated Bhekaphezulu Bridge that was commissioned in Brunapeg last week

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Abednico Ncube has implored communities to rehabilitate dilapidated infrastructure within their areas by mobilising resources and partnering responsible government departments.

At the commissioning of Bhekaphezulu Bridge in Mangwe District on Friday, Cde Ncube said rural people need quality infrastructure in their areas as they were also entitled to better living standards.

A number of rural communities were short of essential infrastructure, he said in a speech read on his behalf by Mangwe District Administrator Felicity Gangada.

Cde Ncube said living conditions in most rural communities could only improve if villagers had good roads that allow them to access schools, health centres and government offices.

“The government envisages a scenario where every community is linked to other communities as well as to urban centres and service centres, hence the construction of roads and bridges has remained one of the top priorities on the development agenda,” he said.

“Organisations like DDF are working towards achieving this in rural communities but the work can be better achieved with the input of the people.”

Cde Ncube commended the community of Mangwe District for taking the initiative to have a bridge built in the area after realising that their community had become inaccessible.

DDF provincial co-ordinator for Matabeleland South, Douglas Dube, told The Chronicle that the construction of Bhekaphezulu Bridge in Brunapeg area cost $160,000.

He said villagers provided labour through haulage of locally available material such as stones, river sand and water while DDF provided the technical expertise and other resources such as the machinery.

Dube said the local authority also assisted with cement for the construction process.

He said about five more bridges were urgently needed in Mangwe District but DDF was cash-strapped.

Dube said DDF was trying its best in maintaining road infrastructure within the province but there was a need for villagers and other parties to chip in.

“We’ve been trying to upgrade old roads and repairing bridges that were damaged by rains. We’re facing financial problems and challenges in getting equipment which is why we need help from villagers and other stakeholders,” said Dube.

He said there was still a lot of work to be done within the province on road rehabilitation and formation.

Mangwe Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Nketha Mangoye Dlamini, said the bridge had brought a huge sigh of relief upon community members as some villagers were failing to access the hospital during the rainy season.

“The bridge is in Brunapeg but it also services people from other wards who have to travel to Brunapeg Hospital for health services. The bridge had become a disaster area and at one point a bus was nearly swept away during the rainy season.

“People were failing to cross during the rainy season and even school pupils were struggling to attend school. There is a lot of traffic that passes through that route and the situation is set to improve following the reconstruction of this bridge,” he said.

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