One person died on the spot when Chimanimani highway, known as the Skyline, collapsed as a vehicle was passing.

The collapse which happened just after Charter Bridge is being attributed to incessant rains.

Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer Atherton Zindoga attributed the collapse to the incessant rains being received in the district and dismissed speculations of poor workmanship by the contractor. He explained:

There was an upstream river which changed its course of flow and forced its way underneath the road surface resulting in the collapse. The contractor did not work on this section because it was not affected what they just did was surfacing.

Our heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family. As a ministry we are going to lobby for resources to monitor and inspect our roads so that if preventable, such incidents should not happen again and claim lives, said Zindoga.

The Skyline – Chimanimani highway, was commissioned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in November last year following a post Cyclone Idai disaster reconstruction work by a local contractor.

The highway had survived recent tropical storms but collapsed after Charter Bridge resulting in the death of a person who was driving to Chimanimani.

ZBC News reports that the completion of the Jopa-Kopa highway has been delayed as a result of the incessant rains which are now causing landslides and diverting the flow of a number of rivers.

• ZBC News