By Fanuel Chinowaita
Mutare, Zimbabwe – February 14, 2025 – A critical footbridge linking Hobhouse and Dangamvura in Mutare was washed away on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning following relentless rainfall throughout the night.
The bridge, which was constructed using funds from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA), collapsed under the pressure of the rising waters, severing a vital transportation route for the community.
The incident has particularly affected students from Rujeko Primary School and Dangamvura High School, who rely on the footbridge to commute daily.
With the bridge now impassable, the administration of Rujeko Primary School has stepped in to ferry students using the school bus, transporting them from Vacphone in Hobhouse to the school in Dangamvura.
However, the disruption has caused significant inconvenience and raised concerns about the safety and accessibility of education for affected students.
Efforts by The Wasu Post to reach Rujeko Primary School for comment were unsuccessful, as the school head was reportedly at the site of the collapsed bridge alongside Dangamvura Ward 6 Councillor Danny Saunyama.
Councillor Saunyama confirmed the bridge’s collapse and expressed concern over the impact on schoolchildren and residents who depend on the structure for daily travel.
“The footbridge has completely fallen, and this is a major setback for our community,” said Councillor Saunyama. “Schoolchildren and other residents who use this bridge daily are now stranded, and we urgently need intervention to address this issue.”
Mutare City Deputy Mayor John Nyamhoka also confirmed the incident, attributing the footbridge’s failure to the heavy rainfall and the resulting floodwaters.
He emphasized that the bridge, which falls under the Mutare Central Constituency but serves primarily Dangamvura residents, was a key infrastructure project funded by ZINARA. Its collapse has left the community in dire need of immediate intervention.
“The footbridge was built using ZINARA funds, but the heavy rains overnight proved too much for its structure,” said Deputy Mayor Nyamhoka. “We are aware of the challenges this poses, especially for students, and we are working to find a solution.”
Residents are now appealing to Mutare Central Constituency Member of Parliament James Brian and Dangamvura Constituency MP Prosper Chapfiwa Mutseyami to collaborate on reconstructing the bridge.
The community has highlighted the urgency of the situation, as the footbridge is not only essential for students but also for the broader movement of goods and services between the two areas.
“We are calling on our MPs to work together and prioritize the reconstruction of this footbridge,” said Netsai Masarara from Hobhouse. “This is a lifeline for us, and without it, our children cannot go to school safely, and our daily lives are disrupted.”
The collapse of the footbridge has underscored the vulnerability of local infrastructure to extreme weather events, raising questions about the durability of such projects and the need for more resilient construction methods.
As the community awaits action from local leaders, residents are calling for swift and coordinated efforts to restore the bridge and ensure the safety and well-being of all affected.