Dreadful Cockroft Bridge

By Luumuno Siangoma Mudenda and Jacob Mumpande

Cockcroft bridge at Siachilaba is one of the most dangerous and hazardous bridge in Zimbabwe. It is named after Ivor Gwynn Cockcroft, who was District Commissioner for Binga and Gokwe during the colonial era. Mr. Cockcroft pioneered the construction of the road from Binga to Kamativi.

 

Bridge has a big pothole and several accidents have happened here

The bridge is very narrow and it does not have any continuous supporting pillars and guides which by law is one of the mandatory requirements when constructing bridges.  The sight of plane-ended surface induces panic among many drivers. To make matters worse when descending from the direction of Kamativi, the bridge has got a pothole which poses a hazard at the entrance having the ability to make a vehicle to lose control and slip into the river. 

 

The bridge allows passage of one car at a time. Motorist and villagers alike have noted this with concern that it is not safe considering the fact that school children use the same bridge when going to school.
There is no space for pedestrians on the extremes ends of the bridge hence if school children are already on the bridge and there is an oncoming traffic, a horrific accident is bound to happen.

“Whenever I approach the bridge, I feel nervous, I am never comfortable despite the fact that I have crossed the bridge a hundred times, it always scares the hell out of me. Something should be done to the bridge so as to ensure safety of the people”…said Erastus Nyathi, a concerned citizen.  

Maleme Bus Company which plied the Bulawayo - Binga route is commonly known for going off the bridge twice, landing on the river bed. This was to no surprise as people considered the bridge to be too narrow for heavy duty traffic usage. The bus has now diverted its routes although it has not been established the reasons for the diversion.

A pedestrian seen crossing Cockcroft Bridge over Sibungwe River which is full to the brim

“Why is it that all bridges in Binga are narrow compared to other districts and towns? The Ministry of roads or whoever is responsible for constructing roads should really build a safe road infrastructure. When was the last time they checked strength of the bridge?” said an upset motorist only know as Peter.

“We endure difficulties when we cross the bridge, it is too small” said Elton Shumba, an inter-link heavy duty truck driver.

To some local elders at Siachilaba, the bridge is built on a sacred place which were elders appeased their spirit mediums and ancestors. Traditionally this explains the reason why there has been a lot of accident at the bridge. To the local people, the place is known as kumizimu yemvula.

 “Imizimu iyanda kupiilwa, ikuti tekwachitwa obo takwe cibotu Nkambo balinyemene Nkambo takulokupilwape” That is to say, the ancestors need to be appeased; if not, bad things are bound to happen several times each year”, said Josias Mungombe a local elder from chief Sinyanga chiefdom.

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