By Leah Malimbasa
Chikwawa Mana: Minister of Finance, Sosten Gwengwe has reiterated government’s commitment to rebuild infrastructure and assist people who have lost their livelihoods due to Tropical Cyclone Freddy (TCF) to recover.
Gwengwe was speaking in Chikwawa on Tuesday, when he inspected Namikalango Bridge and Sekeni where the road connecting Chikwawa and Nsanje districts has been cut off by TCF induced floods.
“We need to pay attention to humanitarian aid to our fellow Malawians who are in shelter camps but beyond this we also need to focus on rebuilding infrastructure and livelihoods because they cannot live in the camps forever,” he said.
Gwengwe added that apart from damaging road infrastructure, schools and hospitals, people have lost their ability to earn a living and shelter government is already in talks with partners on how to rebuild both the people’s livelihoods and infrastructure in a sustainable and resilient manner.
“We are already in talks with World Bank and their engineers and ours to start rapid assessments on what has been damaged and plan how to rebuild,” said Gwengwe.
The minister added that in the meantime some temporary solutions have been initiated at Namikalango Bridge and Sekeni to restore accessibility of Nsanje through Chikwawa road.
Roads Authority Director of Maintenance, Florence Ndenguma said they have mobilised a contractor for the construction of a diversion route at Mikalango.
“The contractor will put crossings at Namikalango. To fix Namikalango Bridge we will need K2 billion,” she said.
Ndenguma added that rebuilding the bridge will take time due to the technical works involved.
