Eastern Produce rehabilitates bridge in Mulanje District

Eastern Produce Malawi Limited has rehabilitated a 20-metre bridge in Traditional Authority (T/A) Njema in Mulanje District to the tune of K28.5 million.

Speaking during the handover on Tuesday, the company’s managing director David Reynolds said the bridge was washed away by Cyclone Freddy-induced floods in March this year.

He said the bridge connects people from Safari and Songwe villages and also allows people from Safari Village to access Naphimba Clinic and Songwe Primary School.

“The bridge is important for both the company and the community. We saw that communities were struggling to get to work because of mobility challenges,” he said.

Reynolds encouraged community members to collaborate with the company in the activities the company is carrying out in the area.

Mulanje district roads supervisor Lonjezo Chigongono thanked the company for the gesture, saying the bridge will solve mobility challenges.

He said: “It will make a big difference in terms of communication because the cyclone destroyed bridges and other infrastructure.

“Normally, we construct 30-tonne bridges, government’s recommended standard; however, this is not a busy road and that’s why they have constructed a 10-tonne bridge which can allow light vehicles and ambulances to pass through.”

While thanking the company for rehabilitating the bridge in the area, T/A Njema asked for more support, saying there are many bridges that also suffered damage and  require rehabilitation before the rainy season. n