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Community members in group village head Mwandambo in Traditional Authority Mwakaboko in Karonga District have expressed concern over the delay by Muhingi Limited to reconstruct Lukyala Bridge along Songwe Border-Ngisi-Ngana Road. The bridge collapsed last month when a tipper carrying coal from Mwaisondola Village tried to cross it. In an interview on Tuesday, Mwakaboko Area Development Committee (ADC) chairperson George Chitete said the situation has affected people’s mobility. He said: “When the accident occurred, we summoned Muhingi Limited management to discuss the issue and other pertinent development matters in the area as part of their corporate social responsibility. “They assured us that on top of rebuilding the two bridges to reinforce them to match with huge cargo vehicles, they will rehabilitate the 10-kilometre Songwe Border-Ngisi-Ngana earth road up to Mwaisondola Village where the company is doing its mining activities.” However, Chitete expressed disappointment after noting that three weeks have elapsed without any tangible development. He said: “Therefore, ADC members will meet next week to map the way forward. “We also want to engage the miner on a memorandum of understanding on their development plans to the community in the presence of council officials.” But in an interview, Muhingi Limited general manager Hastings Buleya, while acknowledging that one of their tippers damaged the bridge, said engineers will be on site on Friday to assess the extent of the damage. He said: “We plan to begin construction works of the bridge on November 1 2025. “So, our engineers will be on site on Friday to assess the extent of the damage and thereafter, reconstruction and the rehabilitation of both the bridge and the road will begin.” Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace of Karonga Diocese desk officer Obert Mkandawire blamed the investor for venturing into mining activities in the area without due consideration for the road infrastructure. He, therefore, called for swift action on the project
