Karanda Bridge construction behind schedule

THE construction of Karanda Bridge in Rushinga District has fallen behind schedule due to a number of challenges.

Construction of the bridge started on October 7, 2017 and was expected to be complete by October 31 this year but work has stalled with construction 83 percent complete.

District Development Fund (DDF) provincial coordinator Mr Kenny Clement Mutombo said the project had been affected by lack of working units in the province, price distortions and shortages of cement and fuel.

A unit comprises of a dozer, grader, front-end loader, four tippers, one water bowser and a fuel bowser.

Mr Mutombo said they were also facing difficulties in securing contractors because the rates they were offering were much lower than those offered by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

“If we had at least two working units in the province, one in four districts we would manage to maintain our 2 400 kilometres roads network in the province and there will be no need to hire contractors.

“We only have two units in the country and they are not complete units and only two dozers are operational. We don’t have a unit in the province. This is the other reason why we failed to complete on time.

“Although we are working with a contractor, he did not release his equipment as planned. Shortages of cement and fuel also affected us. Now the rains have fallen and the river is flooded we cannot work. We are at 83 percent. We are only left with two pillars and five decks.”

Mr Mutombo said price distortions could also result in a slight variation in their $3 million budget for the bridge and road.

“The budget allocated for the bridge is $3 million, but at the moment we have used less than $600 000 because most of the money is going towards the opening and gravelling of the road. Due to the distortion in prices, the budget might go up but most of the material like aggregate stones and steel are there. We only need cement,” he said.

“People travel all over and outside the country to access medical attention at Karanda Mission Hospital and Karanda Bridge provides the shortest route to the hospital. The Mt Darwin-Nhoro-Karanda Road is 62 kilometres, while the Mt Darwin-Mudzengerere-Karanda Road is 60 kilometres.”