People hail bridge project

Communities in Traditional Authority (T/A) Juma in Mulanje District have commended the district council for constructing a bridge across Chimwamesi River.

The K65 million bridge, constructed under the World Bank-funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (Gesd), will connect Nambilanje and Namboya wards in the area.

In an interview on Friday, T/A Juma Area Development Committee chairperson Luciano Dyson said it was difficult to cross the river without the bridge.

He said: “The bridge has eased mobility challenges. People are now able to access social services on the other side of the river easily.

“For example, we are now able to access healthcare services at Namphungo Health Centre.”

One of the community members, Stanley Sailesi, who operates a motorcycle taxi, said it was difficult crossing the river with passengers.

“During the rainy season, the river was always full and dangerous to cross. As such, we could not do any business and that affected our economic well-being,” he said.

Another community member, Chrissy Sauka, from group village Chafikana said the bridge has brought relief to children who learn at Namphungo Primary School.

“No parent allowed their children to go to school during the rainy season,” she said.

Sauka commended the council for implementing such projects, saying they have potential to spur the area’s development.

“Farmers will also be able to transport their produce to markets easily any time of the year,” she said.

Gesd is a project implemented by the Malawi Government in local councils through the National Local Government Finance Committee