PS prods Ndola city engineers over collapsed bridge

20 01 14 E

The Mwenye-Madando bridge, which connects Mwenye and Madando compounds in Chichele to Twapia and Kantolomba townships, was damaged by heavy rains in February 2017, and then totally collapsed and washed away by heavy rains a year later in February 2018.

Bishop Chomba said he was disappointment that the bridge had not been constructed for three years.

He therefore, instructed Ndola City Council engineers to submit bridge design drawings urgently to his office for the construction works to commence.

He said he was going to personally ensure that the bridge was constructed stating that it was possible to construct the bridge within six months.

The local government Permanent Secretary stated that he was going to try sourcing for funds for the construction of the bridge.

In a statement, Bwanamukubwa Member of parliament Jonas Chanda said the bridge had never been repaired or reconstructed despite repeated requests as it was a capital-intensive project and local authorities had been financially constrained.

Dr Chanda stated that for three years the people of Mwenye and Madando had been cut- off from access to nearby Twapia, Lubuto and Kantolomba townships where most school and health services were located.

He said pedestrians and motorists used long routes branching off from the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway to access education and health in nearby areas.

He further, reassured the people of Chichele that he would do his best to ensure that a modern, quality and safe bridge wad constructed, rather than a makeshift bridge that may risk the lives of the people.

He said he had invited the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government Bishop Edward Chomba to the site of the collapsed Mwenye-Madando Bridge to see for himself the suffering of the people.

He said the PS was accompanied by Ndola City Council Town Clerk Mr Wisdom Bwalya, Director of Engineering Mr Simuchimba and others.

And Ndola City Council Town Clerk Wisdom Bwalya said K1 million had already been allocated towards construction of Mwenye-Madando bridge in the 2020 budget for Ndola City Council.

Mr Bwalya however indicated that K1 million was not enough adding that there was need for to be supplemented by central government. it

LOCAL government permanent Secretary Bishop Edward Chomba is concerned with the unrepaired Mwenye-Madando bridge and has tasked Ndola City engineers to come up with bridge design drawings to accelerate the construction process.