Millions Missing, Lives At Risk: The Jeka Bridge Scandal

By Advent Shoko Advent Abiun Shoko

The state of the 𝗝𝗲𝗸𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 in 𝗠𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘄𝗮, as of 𝟳 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, starkly contrasts with the substantial funds allocated for its construction.

In 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴, the 𝗭𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 announced a 𝗨𝗦$𝟭𝟳𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 road rehabilitation initiative under the 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀 (𝗣𝗦𝗜𝗣) and the 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 (𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗣).

The funds were earmarked for five bridges, including 𝗝𝗲𝗸𝗮. That means each bridge, on average, was set to receive about 𝗨𝗦$𝟯𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻.

The 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 also contributed about 𝗨𝗦$𝟳 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻, bringing the total estimated funding for the 𝗝𝗲𝗸𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 to roughly 𝗨𝗦$𝟰𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Yet, despite this sizable investment, the bridge today remains a crude structure of logs and planks—a makeshift crossing that endangers the lives of local villagers daily.

Children, the elderly, and even vehicles risk falling into the river below every time they cross.

This situation raises serious concerns about transparency, project oversight, and accountability.

Where did the millions go? Why does a bridge funded with more than 𝗨𝗦$𝟰𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 resemble a temporary footpath built by the community itself?

𝗝𝗲𝗸𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 is not just infrastructure—it is a lifeline for the people of 𝗠𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘄𝗮, linking them to clinics, schools, and markets.

The current state of the bridge reflects a bigger story about governance, development, and the promises made to Zimbabweans.

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