Residents of Mashamba, Masakona and people who frequently visit or commute to these areas are among the happiest people in the district, after the the official opening of two bridges last week.
The mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr David Mutavhatsindi, handed over the Mashamba and Sereni bridges to the residents. The construction of the bridges started a couple of years ago and were completed last year. "Makhado Municipality is committed to render quality services for people," said Muvhatsindi.
Mutavhatsindi expressed his appreciation for the cooperation shown by motorists during the construction of the two bridges, which cross the Tshiungedzi and Lurovha rivers. Motorists, including taxi operators, also shared their excitement. "I am able to access my relatives in Mashamba without any difficulty, which was posed by the lack of a bridge before," Mr Thomas Mufunzi said.
The roads connecting to the bridges were riddled with deep potholes and it was impossible for pupils to cross to the other side of the villages to schools during the rainy season as the rivers would be running deep with hazardous water.
Thovhele Vho-Nndwamato Mashamba expressed his acknowledgement during the bridge handover and said that his people were spared from using a distant, long road. "We had to avoid the river which ran across the road from the other side and blocked the road," he said. "That other road made it hard for us to reach our homes. It also affected the pupils who had to wait for the river to subside before they could attempt crossing. People get to the clinic on time now."