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Chidzanja ‘washed away’ bridge under restoration

Work to restore washed away embankments at a bridge along Chidzanja Road in Lilongwe is nearing completion, the Roads Authority (RA) has confirmed.

The work includes embankment formation, gabion protection and concrete works.

The bridge being worked on yesterday

The bridge, built by Sawa Group, had its embankments washed away following floods which occurred on January 10 this year. The floods also displaced 176 people from their homes.

RA spokesperson Portia Kajanga said in a written response to a questionnaire yesterday the consultant is finalising the cost estimates comprising the restoration works with additional foundation and embankment protection to make the structure “stronger and more resilient to flooding”.

She said the cost of the work will likely be shared by the contractor and the client (government) accordingly depending on the cause of the defects being fixed.

Said Kajanga: “Any damage to the structure attributable to the force of nature is a risk contractually apportioned to the client. As such, the resulting costs will have to be borne by the client, while defects attributable to poor workmanship will be fully borne by the contractor.”

Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango, who visited the site after the floods, was quoted in The Nation as having expressed concern that this and two other bridges failed to withstand the floods.

Sawa Group referred the matter to RA.

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