Villagers in quandary as rains destroy bridge

Community News
Some villagers in Mutoko are failing to access Nyanga district where they sell goods and agricultural produce after Rwenya Bridge, which links the two areas, was destroyed by heavy rains last month.

MUTOKO — Some villagers in Mutoko are failing to access Nyanga district where they sell goods and agricultural produce after Rwenya Bridge, which links the two areas, was destroyed by heavy rains last month.

BY SOFIA MAPURANGA

Villagers who spoke to Standardcommunity last week said they had not been able to engage in any form of business with people from other areas since the bridge collapsed.

Most of the villagers sell their wares to gold panners in Nyanga, where panning activities are rampant.

“We rely on gold panning for our livelihoods but we have been stuck here since the bridge was destroyed,” said Deren Bando from Mutoko. He said they cannot swim across or use canoes because the current is very strong.

Grace Dziva from Nyamande area, who also sells her various wares to the panners, said she had not been able to cross into Nyanga since the bridge collapsed.

“Even when we are selling our agricultural produce, we prefer selling it in Nyanga because it is closer than Mutoko centre,” she said.

“Travelling to Nyanga is cheaper and convenient but as it is, all activity has come to a standstill. Our link has been destroyed.” Efforts to get a comment from Mudzi Rural District Council were fruitless last week.