Luangwa Bridge on Chama-Matumbo Road on the verge of collapsing

CHAMA North Member of Parliament, Yotam Mtayachalo, has called on Government to urgently take remedial measures which will prevent the temporary bridge at Luangwa River to be washed away by the current heavy rains.

Mr Mtayachalo fears that the temporary bridge at the Luangwa River on the Chama-Matumbo road is on the verge of being washed away due to heavy rains being recorded this rain season if urgent measures are not taken to address the situation.

He said this in a statement issued yesterday in Lusaka.

“It must also be noted that the Chama-Matumbo road is a key trade route because of its proximity to Nakonde and Tanzania and more importantly the gate way to Muchinga Province and the rest of the country.

“Therefore, if the bridge is washed away Chama will be cut off from Muchinga Province and the rest of the country hence affecting economic activities in the district and emergency referral hospital cases to Chinsali General Hospital,” Mr Mtayachalo said.

He recalled that the bridge has actually outlived its life span.

Mr Mtayachalo explained that he has brought this matter to the attention of the Government requesting for urgent need to work on the bridge to avert catastrophe.

“This prompted Infrastructure Minister, Charles Milupi, the Road Development Agency (RDA) management, the board chairperson and myself to travel to Chama in February 2022 to inspect road infrastructure in the district and the team saw it for themselves the state the temporary bridge at Luangwa which indeed needed urgent attention.

“I have been in touch with both the Road Development Agency (RDA) regional engineers for eastern and Muchinga respectively over the matter and as such they have informed me that the government is aware of the development as something will be done,” he said.

Mr Mtayachalo stressed that the route is also used by the contractor China Railways seventh group to transport materials for the construction of the Kamphemba Bridge which is also a key crossing point on the Chama-Matumbo road.