By BRIAN HATYOKA –
GOVERNMENT has finally re-opened the reconstructed Mulala bridge in Livingstone which collapsed in January 2014.
More than 700 households of Mulala village in Libuyu ward were cut off from the rest of the tourist capital after the bridge collapsed due to heavy rains.
A Times reporter yesterday found some residents and motorists  using the bridge without any difficulties.
Scores of residents found crossing the bridge praised the Government for responding to their cries by reconstructing the crossing point.
Derick Lukwesa said he was pleased that the Government had finally reopened the bridge.
He said the bridge, which was expected to be officially opened tomorrow, was like a miracle as well as a Christmas and New Year present from the Government.
“We are very grateful to the Government for giving us a Christmas and New Year  present. We will surely safeguard the facility,” he said.
Aston Siamwilu, a resident of Mulala, was grateful to the Government for rebuilding the bridge.
Mr Siamwilu said school-going children had challenges when crossing the crocodile-infested Maramba River after the bridge collapsed.
“Government has helped us and we are really excited. Some people have died in the same river,” he said.
Rodson Mudenda, who has lived in Mulala area for five years and works on the other side of the river, said the reconstruction of the bridge had raised a lot of hope in the residents.
“We used to suffer a lot especially in the rainy season when crossing the river. We would spend nights in Linda Township and our wives could accuse us of being with girlfriends on the other side of the bridge,” he said.
The Zambia Army led a team of engineers during the reconstruction process while the Zambia National Service and the Rural Roads Unit provided equipment under supervision of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit.