Heavy rains damage bridge

Community members in Bulambya-Kaseghe in Chitipa have appealed to authorities to rehabilitate a bridge across Kaseghe River which collapsed on Monday following heavy rains.

In an interview, Chief Mwaulambya said people from his area are cut off from accessing social services at Chitipa Boma.

“The worst affected are referral patients in need of scanning services at Kaseghe Mission Hospital as Chitipa and Karonga district hospitals do not have scanning machines,” he said.

Augustus Mengwa,  whose children learn at Yamba Primary School, said primary and secondary school learners are not going to school due to mobility challenges.

“We ask authorities to rehabilitate the bridge quickly to enable learners to attend classes,” he said.

However, Yamba Ward councillor Wedson Sinkhonde said the council is working on a temporary diversion from Iyera to Chinunkha.

In a separate interview, Chitipa acting district commissioner MacMillan Magomero, who is also the district council’s director of planning and development, said his office is under pressure from local leaders due to the tragedy.

He, however, said his office has contacted the Roads Authority (RA) to rehabilitate the bridge.

Said Magomero: “The problem is big as it has affected Kaseghe, Ifumbo and Mbilima.

“The cut off means Kaseghe Girls’ Secondary School learners and Kaseghe Mission Hospital have been greatly affected.”

When contacted, RA chief executive officer Engineer Emmanuel Matapa asked for more time before commenting.