By Francis Chipalo
Bridges to Prosperity is set to seal off what has for many years been described as a ‘death trap’ by locals owing to past incidents which even resulted to loss of human life.
This is a makeshift bridge linking Kasenga and Kasisi wards in Lusaka’s Chongwe constituency.
Currently, residents depend on a three – metaled temporary bridge which was improvised by a member of the community Michael Malima to enable people cross the other side.
Worryingly, the temporary bridge has no other supporting materials and is a danger to users who have no choice but risk their lives to and from the other side on a daily basis as the alternative route takes about six hours walk on a journey which should take people less than 30 minutes accessing social amenities such as schools, clinics and markets.
Sadly, the makeshift bridge can only be used during the dry season when water levels on the Chongwe river go down, but residents testified that during rainy season when the stream gets flooded, the bridge becomes impassable with people on either sides being cut off from one another.
Speaking shortly before a ground – breaking ceremony for the construction of a bridge by the non – governmental/ humanitarian aid organization, members of the community, both parents and children expressed relief with the development.
“My heart is never at peace during the rain season knowing that my children’s lives are at risk going to school using this bridge,” said Queen Matepeta, a resident of Kasenga.
Matepeta disclosed that whenever it rains, her children have to stay home stuck whilst their friends on the other side are learning.
This, she said had continued in contributing to children on the other side of the village record poor results in school as they are always left behind.
The former Kasisi girls pupil who narrated having used canoes in the past crossing the river expressed happiness, stating that the future of her children and others would now be safe following the intervention by the NGO.
And another resident, Elizabeth Kalaluka disclosed that a number of lives have in the recent past been lost as a result of drowning from the bridge.
She said the most vulnerable were school children, further echoing her colleague’s sentiments.
School children also shared their joy by the development as attested by Beauty Nyoni and Justin Banda, both grade 9 pupils at Kasenga Danai primary school.
The pupils said they usually abandon school in the rain season as the only crossing point becomes a death trap.
“One can be home for weeks waiting for water levels to go down before they can go and risk their lives crossing this bridge, so I am very happy that a modern bridge is now being constructed for my friends and I because we will no longer skip classes as has been the case recently,” a smiley Nyoni said.
“As for me, I am happy that I will no longer have to walk for over six hours going to school and from school using the alternative route and my wish is that this bridge is completed as soon as possible,” Banda said.
Meanwhile, Michael Malima said three people lost their lives last year in an attempt to cross the river.
And Bridges to Prosperity Zambia country director, Nachilala Nkombo said her organization was compelled to interven having learnt about the situation via a video clip of children crossing the river on a makeshift bridge.
Nkombo explained that the organization will be putting up a climate – resilient low cost bridge which will benefit more than 30,000 community members.
“Ours is making sure that people have access to schools, markets, health facilities and many other social amenities, and we are hopeful that once completed, this bridge will transform economic activities of residents here because transport worries will be a thing of the past,” she said.
Nkombo said the Road Development Agency (RDA) will supervise construction works whose cost has been approximated at a staggering K1.8 million.
With the ground – breaking ceremony done, works are expected to commence as soon as possible with the developer hoping to finish construction before the next rain season.
Meanwhile, Chongwe member of parliament Sylvia Masebo commended the NGO for coming on board.
The parliamenterian cautioned the community against vandalism and theft of construction materials.
She said issues of bridges was a source of concern in her constituency, further expressing happiness the partnership with Bridges to Prosperity.
“We can do small bridges using Constituency Development Fund (CDF), but we need such partnerships with the private sector so that we can together change the livelihoods and improve the living standards of our people,” Masebo, who is also lands and natural resources minister added.
Bridges to Prosperity has built more than 500 trail bridges, serving over 1.8 million community members throughout the world.
