Residents push BCC to act on damaged bridge
A group of concerned residents of Machinjili Township in Blantyre on Wednesday held demonstrations to push Blantyre City Council (BCC) to expedite reconstruction of Makalanga Bridge on the Limbe-Machinjili road.
The bridge was washed away following torrential rains two weeks ago.
Speaking when they presented a petition addressed to BCC mayor Wild Ndipo at Civic Offices, the group’s coordinator Asabuni Phiri said since the bridge was washed away on February 12, life is difficult for people of Machinjili and Makalanga areas.
He said: “Patients, especially pregnant women are facing problems to reach the hospital and children are failing to go to school.
“Meanwhile, some people have taken advantage of the situation by erecting a temporary bridge and are demanding K100 for a person to cross the river.
“We want BCC to erect a temporary bridge for people to use at no cost, secondly, we want BCC to upgrade the detour so that minibuses and other motorists can use it and lastly, we want the council to expedite the reconstruction of the Makalanga Bridge.”
Phiri said should BCC fail to act on their petition, they will refer the matter to Transport Minister Jacob Hara.Attempts to get a reaction from Ndipo proved futile as he was reportedly locked up in a meeting, but BCC enforcement ranger Technician Mbvundula, who received the petition, pledged to forward it to relevant authorities.
CAPTION: A group of protesters brandish placards during the demonstrations
