By Maston Kaiya

Ntcheu, May 13, Mana: Chairperson for Inkosi Mpando Area Development Committee (ADC) in Ntcheu, Andrew Gambatula, has expressed satisfaction with the construction of Nzama Concrete Bridge saying it will help ease mobility challenges in the area.

The K27.7 million infrastructure is being constructed with funds from the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD).

Gambatula said the bridge, once completed, will easily connect Nzama Heath Centre to Ntcheu-Tsangano-Neno-Mwanza Road.

“Access to good road network is what communities are lacking in the area whenever they want to seek medical treatment to the facility.

“During rainy season the current temporary bridge is hardly passable for the ambulance to reach to the other side of the road,” he said.

He added that for referrals to Ntcheu District Hospital, an ambulance has to cover a distance of over five kilometers to connect to the main road, so once the bridge is completed, it will reduce the distance.

Inkosi Mpando ADC chairperson said the bridge will benefit learners at Nzama Primary and Community Day Secondary schools as the current infrastructure is very fragile and a death trap.

Group Village Head (GVH) Hoda said with the majority of his communities relying on farming, transportation of farm produce is costly now.

He hopes that the bridge will address the burden of the high cost of transport.

He expressed concern that it becomes difficult to timely reach Tsangano turn off market as heavy duty vehicles cannot use the old bridge.

Director of Planning and Development for Ntcheu District Council, Obed Mwalughali, said the council is committed to ensure the bridge is completed in the next three months.

“The World Bank has disbursed some funds for what was approved in the 2023/2024 annual investment plans. Therefore, the council has prioritized some projects like Nzama Bridge which will be completed in three months, as the contractor has already signed the contract for the same,” he said.

GESD is a five-year performance based project funded by the World Bank and is facilitated by the Ministry of Finance and the National Local Government Finance Committee.