The transport minister just told a construction crew to fix a key bridge, but not wreck the river. Feston Kaupa visited the broken Mpasadzi Bridge on the M1 road in Kasungu, directing the company Mota Engil to work fast but carefully to reconnect the vital north-south highway. He stressed the road closure has stalled business and development, forcing costly detours for trucks. Kaupa also criticized local farming and tree-cutting along the riverbanks, blaming those practices for helping cause the damage.
A local leader, Senior Chief Mphomwa, praised the quick government action but promised to curb harmful community activities like sand mining and riverside agriculture. Engineers from Mota Engil reported that with steady water levels, finishing the job might take only about a day before vehicles could cross again. The situation highlights the government's attempt to balance urgent infrastructure repair with longer-term environmental protection, warning that without safeguarding rivers, bridges will keep failing. Businesses and drivers along the corridor are hoping for a swift reopening to resume normal travel and trade.
A local leader, Senior Chief Mphomwa, praised the quick government action but promised to curb harmful community activities like sand mining and riverside agriculture. Engineers from Mota Engil reported that with steady water levels, finishing the job might take only about a day before vehicles could cross again. The situation highlights the government's attempt to balance urgent infrastructure repair with longer-term environmental protection, warning that without safeguarding rivers, bridges will keep failing. Businesses and drivers along the corridor are hoping for a swift reopening to resume normal travel and trade.
