A washed-away Valabao Bridge has become a daily nightmare for people in Rumphi, cutting off a vital route and making it harder to reach hospitals, schools and markets.
The concern reached Parliament on Friday when Rumphi Central Member of Parliament Matthews Mtumbuka appealed to the government to urgently rehabilitate the bridge, saying the project is too expensive to be financed through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Speaking during question time, Mtumbuka asked Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango to intervene after efforts by the local council to restore the bridge failed.
“The bridge collapsed in March this year. We have been trying to rehabilitate it using the local government system, but the allocation required is beyond our capacity. I want you, Honourable Minister, to come to our rescue,” said Mtumbuka.
He said the bridge is a lifeline for communities travelling to Rumphi Boma to access health services, schools, markets and other government services.
Responding to the appeal, Mhango said his ministry had already dispatched engineers to assess the damage.
He told Parliament that rebuilding the bridge is expected to cost about K1.8 billion.
Mhango assured the House that the government will take over the project and reconstruct the bridge as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Bwengu to Chipokawawoli Road.
