Community members from Machinjiri Village in Traditional Authority Machinjiri in Zomba are beaming with joy after teaming up to construct a bridge at Machinjiri stream.
Led by Machinjiri Village Natural Resources Management Committee (VNRMC), people in the community joined hands to build the bridge as one way of providing an all-season access to valuable places including schools and hospitals.
Machinjiri VNRMC leader Bertha Daglous has indicated that the villagers decided to construct the platform after struggles the community was facing to access key amenities.
“For years, we struggled with poor access to essential services due to the collapse of a key bridge and we decided to change that,” she said.
Asked on where the group sourced funds to construct the bridge, Daglous said the committee took part of profits it makes from honey production.
Community members also contributed labour, building materials such as quarry stones and sand.
“As a committee, we do practice bee farming which gives us honey products for sale,” said Daglaus.
The K1.7 million bridge has now restored hope as community members are now able to execute their day-to-day operations.
“We are now able to carry our business to Chinamwali trading centre, able to access health facilities and lead a normal life in general,” she added.
One of the community members who took part in the reconstruction of the bridge, Kumbukani Daisi could not hide her excitement, describing the project as a symbol of unity.
“For me, I believe the reconstruction of this bridge was a community decision fueled by the hardships we were witnessing and the desire to change that,” she said.
