Neno communities demand bridge project

Neno North constituents have asked duty-bearers to finish the construction of Mpakati Bridge across Nkhombe River in Traditional Authority Chekucheku in the district.

They made the call on Tuesday during a meeting with duty-bearers organised by National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust.

One of the community members, Flora Chiomba said the area has no schools, health facilities, markets and other essential amenities such that people cross the river to access them on the other side.

She said: “During the rainy season, communities cannot access essential services on the other side.

“Pregnant women deliver at home as they cannot go to Neno District Hospital.”

Chiomba also said children fail to go to school during the rainy season.

Traditional Authority Chekucheku said his subjects feel neglected by the duty-bearers.

“If children cannot go to school due to poor roads or lack of bridges, what kind of future do we expect?” he said.

Chekucheku said they have been waiting for a long time for the area’s councillor and member of Parliament (MP) to finish the construction works.

“I thank Nice Trust for facilitating the meeting which has enabled us to meet the duty-bearers,” he said.

T/A Chekucheku Citizen Voice and Action chairperson Kondwani Chekucheku said their patience was wearing thin.

“We cannot continue like this. We want this bridge to be finished soon,” he said.

In response, councillor Biswas Maganga said he was aware of the unfinished bridge project, but said the area’s parliamentarian Thoko Tembo was best-placed to respond.

The legislator, through his secretary Zakeyu Thanguli, acknowledged the stalled project, saying the bridge will be constructed using the next Constituency Development Fund.

Nice Neno civic education officer Wallace Kudzala said the meeting, which they organised with funding from the European Union, enabled the citizens to engage their leaders.