By KASONDE KASONDE –
GOVERNMENT will spend more than K400,000 on rehabilitation works on Mupanda and Lweba bridges in Mansa District.
The two bridges collapsed two weeks ago and left about 20,000 people cut off from the rest of the district.
Mansa District Commissioner Royd Chakaba said the rehabilitation works on the two bridges would cost about K412, 000.
Mr Chakaba said all the materials were already in the district and equipment was on site at Mupanda Bridge where construction works had started, while at Lweba Bridge, works had not yet commenced as engineers were at the site assessing the situation.
“Government will spend about K400,000 to rehabilitate Mupanda and Lweba bridges that collapsed in the first week of February, all materials are in the district and the works on Mupanda Bridge have commenced,” Mr Chakaba said.
Mr Chakaba said the rehabilitation works were being done by the Rural Roads Unit (RRU) and the Zambia National Service ZNS.
The works on Mupanda bridge would include construction of a diversion or temporal bridge to run side by side with the main bridge.
Mr Chakaba said works on Mupanda bridge were progressing well but rehabilitation on the Lweba bridge had not commenced yet as assessments were still being carried to determine the extent of the damage that was caused by a heavy downpour.
Two weeks ago, almost 20,000 people in Chief Matanda’s area were cut off from the rest of the district after Mupanda and Lweba bridges collapsed following heavy rains in the district.
Area Member of Parliament Chitalu Chilufya who is also Deputy Minister of Health visited the area and assured residents that the bridge would be reconstructed as soon as possible.
Dr Chilufya said his office had engaged the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to ensure that the bridge was worked  on and informed the residents that material had already been sent to the district.