By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, October 23, Mana: Chitipa East constituents have applauded the district council, their Member of Parliament and councilors for constructing Ndendo Bridge using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) amounting to K 19 million.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency, Memory Mlenga from Kasitu Village, Senior Chief Mwenemisuku said before the bridge, it was difficult to cross the river during the rainy season.

“We used to have challenges when crossing the bridge during rainy seasons and learners from areas like Kumwenga village had difficulties crossing the bridge to access primary education at Kasitu Primary School,” Mlenga explained.

She further said farmers also had difficulties when going to their farms and transporting their farm produce.

"With the construction of the bridge, we are happy and this has eased the challenges we used to encounter during the rainy season,” Mlenga added.

A learner at Kasitu Primary School, Petros Msukwa thanked the district council for considering the people of the area by constructing a concrete bridge, which he said will ease challenges during the rainy season.

“When the river is flooded we could stay for a week or two without going to school, which was a challenge. But we are now excited with this concrete bridge,” Petros said.

Kapoka Ward Councillor, Alice Chanza said heavy rains have always been washing away wooden bridge at the place, which she said has been a great challenge to the elected leaders in the area and the district council.

“This bridge has been a nightmare to us. The bridge had been swept away several times because it was made of wooden poles which resulted in communities from other villages failing to cross the bridge to access health care services to nearby health centres and worse still, children had difficulties going to school,” Chanza said.

She commended communities for contributing sand and stones towards the bridge construction project.