CHIREDZI – President Mnangagwa has given a stern warning to his Minister of Transport Biggie Matiza to either perform or face the chop particularly in respect of Chilonga River Bridge that cuts off Chiredzi South from the rest of the country during floods.

Addressing a rally at Tshovani Stadium in Chiredzi on Saturday, Mnangagwa summoned Matiza who is the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to the podium and told him of the crisis that the people of Chiredzi face as a result of the absence of a bridge on the river.

Tens of lives are lost almost every year because of the low bridge which is across Runde River. A whole constituency is cut off from the rest of the country during floods creating transport, health and food crisis in Chiredzi South. The bridge is also critical for linking Sango Border Post and Chiredzi thereby shortening the distance from Beira to Mutare and Harare.

Mnangagwa told the rally that he got a briefing on the bridge and said it was urgent that Matiza mobilises US$20 million required for the construction of the bridge which will be more than 100m.

Mnangagwa said his Cabinet reshuffle last week was based on performance where those who were not getting the results were given the boot. He said the reshuffle was not the end of the story as more would come and non-performers would be kicked out.

He instructed Matiza to deal with the issue of the bridge as soon as possible. He said Matiza would be fired if he did not construct the bridge in the shortest possible time.

“I was appraised of the need to construct Chilonga Bridge. Pano ndauya naminister Matiza karume kapfupi asi kakomana kangu, kakararama pakachinja cabinet but nguva yake ichakwana. Wanzwa nyaya yandataura yeChilonga Bridge ndinoda kuti rigadzirwe ndiko kuti mazuva ako awedzerwe kana zvikasaitika mazuva anoita mashoma (I have Minister Matiza with me here. He survived the recent Cabinet reshuffle but his time will come if he doesn’t give attention and prioritise this project. He must deliver on the Chilonga Bridge in order for him to stay long in Cabinet)”, said Mnangagwa.

This year the bridge was allocated $8million but the money was eroded by inflation.

Masvingo Mirror