Heavy rains cut access to Masvingo city centre

Masvingo, (New Ziana) – Residents of Masvingo’s high density suburbs woke up Tuesday to find most of the short routes into the city centre cut off after Mucheke River which cuts through the city burst its banks following heavy rains overnight.

This was the second day that residents woke up to find the river swollen after heavy rains experienced on Monday night in the Ancient City and its environs similarly caused the river to burst its banks.

Residents of both Mucheke and Rujeko high density suburbs could only access the city centre through the Mucheke River Bridge with water in the swollen river licking the underside of the bridge.

The Chimusana Bridge which links the city centre to most of Mucheke and is normally used by those walking in and out of town, the most preferred mode of transport in the Ancient City since the onset of the Covid-19 lockdown in March last year, was completely under water for several hours.

The approaches to the Rujeko footbridge which has provided huge relief to Rujeko residents, linking the high density suburb to the city centre since its commissioning in 2019, were flooded in the morning, making it inaccessible.

Although Shakashe River on the eastern side of the city was equally flooded, there were no accessibility problems from the eastern suburbs and the low density suburbs such as Rhodene, Zimre Park and Cloverly.

The dangers of stream bank cultivation were amply demonstrated as most crops planted too close to the two rivers were swept away.

The latest deluge is expected to significantly add to the inflow into Masvingo’s sole water supply dam, Lake Mutirikwi.
New Ziana