Malawi Defence Force (MDF) has finished re-installation of Mpatamanga Bailey Bridge within 21 days, beating a three-month deadline.
The bridge, opened by Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango yesterday, is anticipated to ease mobility between Neno, Mwanza and Blantyre districts via Chileka. It will also ease access of social services by communities.
It replaces a previous Bailey bridge which was swept away during Cyclone Idai in 2019; hence, affected mobility of communities and other road users for nearly seven years.
MDF Engineers Battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Sikelo, in an interview on the sidelines of the opening of the bridge, said they were compelled to complete the project prior to its given deadline to ease mobility challenges communities have been facing.
He said: “The experience working on this bridge was wonderful because we received support as regards all required materials which were provided to us and the work was not that difficult for us to accomplish. Of course, it was a bit challenging, but we managed to do it earlier than anticipated.”
Sikelo said Electricity de France, contracted by the World Bank on the hydro power project, provided MDF with new parts that assisted the re-installation.
He said MDF as an entity that is capable of installing Bailey bridges, takes pride in working timely and professionally for the benefit of taxpayers.
Sikelo said MDF’s contract on the re-installation works, including road works, amounted to K1.1 billion.
In a separate interview, Mhango said the bridge will alleviate transportation challenges.
“The bridge will ensure connectivity within communities and will also be integral in easing trade from Mwanza, Neno and the commercial city of Blantyre,” he said.
The minister said government intends to upgrade the roads connecting the bridge to further smoothen the road network. He, however, condemned vandalism of some parts in the course of the re-installation.
Roads Authority (RA) director of maintenance Engineer Flora Hauya in a separate interview said the entity has already identified a contractor who is working on the outer parts of the bridge whose parts were vandalised.
She said RA engaged MDF on the project owing to its expertise in Bailey bridges installation.
Said Hauya: “The parts that were stolen were the reinforcement bars that were put on the sides of the bridge for us to put protection to users of the bridge.
“So, we have another contractor who is going to complete the works. Currently, we have just done the approach in gravel but we will come up with a concrete approach on both sides and we will replace those stolen reinforcements.”
Re-installation of the Bailey bridge began in March 2026 and it also connects to Mpatamanga Hydro Power Project, which is expected to boost Malawi’s electricity generation.
