Heavy rains have severely damaged the dilapidated Luweya Bridge in the Mzimba Central constituency, rendering it impassable and cutting off communities from vital links to healthcare, education, and other basic amenities at Euthini trading centre.
The bridge’s collapse has sparked outrage, with Mulumuzana Muwanga Juba expressing frustration at the perceived negligence and inaction of the Roads Authority (RA) and other stakeholders, despite warnings about the bridge’s deteriorating condition before its total failure.
As a critical crossing on the M09 road, the Luweya Bridge serves as a primary gateway connecting Mzimba Boma to Euthini and other parts of Mzimba North, and its destruction has effectively paralyzed transportation, leaving communities isolated and vulnerable.
The Roads Authority has identified a contractor for the rehabilitation project, but work has yet to begin due to high water levels in the river, making it difficult to start major structural repairs, according to Alice Chinthochi, Senior Public Relations Officer.
In the meantime, the contractor is working on a temporary downstream crossing to facilitate traffic flow, with major works on the Luweya bridge set to start after the rainy season, Chinthochi said, offering some hope for a resolution to the crisis.
The isolation of these communities highlights the need for more proactive measures to prevent such incidents, and the importance of prioritizing infrastructure development to support the needs of local populations.
The situation serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Malawi’s infrastructure to extreme weather events, and the urgent need for investment in resilient and sustainable solutions.
