Story by Mhlomuli Ncube
A US$950 000 bridge has been commissioned in Somgolo, a development that will boost socio-economic activities in Lupane East.
The bridge has significantly enhanced connectivity, benefiting local businesses such as forestry and safaris.
This improvement has also had a profound social impact, enabling many locals to access the Lupane Centre with ease.
Moreover, school children in the area are now safer, having been rescued from the daily fear of crossing flooded rivers, which previously posed a significant risk to their safety.
“This is a story of success and changed lives by a government that cares about us. We are now able to travel without fear of any inconvenience such as floods,” Lupane East legislator, Honourable Siphathisiwe Machangu said.
The story of the Somgolo Bridge began many years ago.
“The bridge was started in 2005. We got funding in 2018 when the Second Republic came in and managed to complete construction in 2024,” RIDA Matabeleland North Province coordinator, Mr Lawrence Ndebele noted.
The government says it is placing emphasis on ensuring that development benefits all citizens across the country.
“Before this bridge, there were difficulties, lives were even lost. The construction of this bridge started in 2005 and was met with challenges but after the Second Republic substantial allocations, this bridge became a reality,” Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Richard Moyo stated.
Besides the bridge constructed through RIDA, the Second Republic also funded the construction of the 20-kilometre Somgolo Road at a cost of US$650 000.
Infrastructure development under the Second Republic has cut across both urban and rural communities under the thrust of leaving no one and no place behind.
