By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, April 12, Mana:  People at Group Village Head Matache, Traditional Authority Mposa in Machinga South expressed gratitude over construction of Lifani Bridge, saying the new infrastructure will improve mobility and facilitate economic activities in the process.

Constructed under District Development Fund (DDF) at an approximate cost of K53 million, the bridge relieves communities’ struggles in accessing social amenities such as markets, health facilities, schools, as they did not have a reliable bridge across Lifani River.

During Malawi News Agency (Mana) recent tour of Mposa, Aisha Iddrisa from Chipalamoto Village said she recalled many bad experiences including an incident when her son fell ill with malaria, saying she had no option but to find a motorbike rider to take her to a facility in the area, Machinjiri Health Centre to avoid a risk crossing point at Lifani River.

“The rider refused to cross on what used to be Lifani Bridge as it was risky to do so. This compelled him to take me via a longer route that also called for additional fare,” she added.

She said the new bridge automatically changes things for the better compared to the situation before the new DDF bridge over Lifani River.

“We faced a lot of challenges in rainy seasons. It becomes difficult for pregnant women to brave longer routes. We had to take a longer route to access a health facility.

“It was not only time-consuming but also posed security risks. During rainy seasons, the crossing point at Lifani River proved impassable, forcing community members to take longer routes to access essential services,” she added.

She said this had negative economic bearing, stating that many farmers struggled to sell their produce for failing to cross over.

Construction of the bridge has brought relief to the community, with many residents expressing gratitude to Machinga District Council and local leaders for the new infrastructure.

"This is a significant development in our area. For years, we've been looking forward to a good bridge,” said Alex Tambala from Matache Village, at Traditional Authority Mposa.

Councilor for Mposa Ward, Cedrick Stande who championed the initiative, said construction of the bridge at Lifani River was a fulfillment of his campaign promise.

“With DDF, I thought of prioritizing needs of people in my area and this is why l thought of engaging the council to construct Lifani Bridge.

“Our area is known for abundant agricultural produce, including maize and rice, which are the backbone of our economy. The bridge has shortened distance and improved access to our markets,” he said, adding that the bridge will allow farmers to sell their produce and improve their living standards.

The Ward Council said the bridge will also be of good advantage to women and the entire community as people will be able to access essential services more easily than before.

“The bridge will promote better trade by making it easier for buyers to access farm produce,” said Shanil Hassani, a farmer in the area.

Machinga District Council, Director of Public Works, Clement Ntambo, assured the community that his office was committed to facilitate development projects at Mposa, citing the Lifani Bridge.

According to data from the Machinga District Council, the bridge has reduced travel time by 30% making it easier for community members to access essential services.