Nearly ten (10) bridges which are critical crossing points for the people of Lumezi district in Eastern Province have collapsed while a few others are on the verge of collapsing due to heavy rains.
A heavy downpour characterized Lumezi earlier this week leaving a devastating trail of destruction where those in the valley areas are cut-off from the rest of the district.
Lumezi Town Council has swiftly moved in to put up temporal measures on crossing points which are not critically affected in order to make them passable for the people, while engaging central government on the worst hit areas.
A team from the Works and Engineering department is currently on site to provide immediate intervention by backfilling the manageable culverts, taking into consideration the fact that it is still heavily raining.
Our Council Chairperson, Oliver Mwale has also conducted on the spot checks of affected crossing points to ascertain the extent of the damage.
Some of the affected crossing points include; Luamphamba bridge connecting Lumezi to Lundazi, Chankalamu bridge in the valley area, Katete bridge along Bulete to Chitungulu road, Makungwa bridge connecting Chikomeni to Mwanya, Lusangazi, Lumezi and Kapaipi bridges.
As a Local Authority, we previously conducted temporal works on the Lusangazi bridge using part of the Constituency Development Fund and intended to create a drift, but this could not be done due to heavy rains.
We will continue to monitor the situation and do anything possible within our means to make the affected crossing points passable until this season ends.
