People raise K4.5m to construct bridge

At least 11 people in Mzimba East have teamed up to construct a bridge across Thete River to ease mobility challenges in their area.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday,Thete Bridge construction vice-chairpersonHenry Sambo said the communities did not want to wait for politicians or elected leaders to mobilise resources for the project.

“Through communal contributions, we have raised K4.5 million out of the budgeted K6.5 million. We ask well-wishers to help us with the remainder so we can complete construction works before the rainy season,” he said.

Group village head Nqumayo said it was difficult to cross the river, especially during the rainy season.

“Last year, a community member was washed away while attempting to cross the river. That is why we launched this project to avert such tragedies in future,” he said.

Nqumayo said they realised that the government has a lot of responsibilities to take care of; hence, embarking on a self-help initiative to construct thebridge.

Jeremy Soko, a community member, said the bridge will ease mobility of children who cross the river to Kanyelele Primary School.

“Again, farmers will be able to transport their produce to better markets. In the same vein, people will access healthcare easily from health facilities on the other side of the river,” he said.

Soko said it was high time communities joined hands to contribute resources to develop their area.

In a separate interview, Mzimba district civic education officer Aaron Luhanga commended the community for embracing self-reliance.

“As a result of drilling different communities on the need to embrace self-help initiatives, others will follow the lead to develop their areas since self-development actualisation is part of Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development plan,” he said.