Sinazongwe District which was cut off from the rest of the country following the floods has opened up.
Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) Laiven Apuleni confirmed the development to ZANIS that construction of the collapsed culvert at Muziyo along the Maamba/Batooka road was completed on Thursday.
Mr. Apuleni said the Road Construction Company (RCC) working on the Bottom Road from Sinazeze to Chaboboma in Gwembe was contracted to repair the washed away culverts.
He said RCC was currently working on the collapsed culvert at Mweezya.
The DC thanked Sinazongwe people for their patience and understanding during the floods that affected them.
“It has been a difficult time for the people of Sinazongwe and as government we are grateful to people for their understanding and we have also managed to address the problem within the shortest possible time,” Mr Apuleni said.
Mr. Apuleni said the repaired culverts would help to address the problems of transport movements that resulted into high prices on essential food stuffs owing to the low supply.
He also thanked the RCC for diverting their manpower to attend to an emergency that affected the district.
The DC disclosed that Malima and Chiyabi people were still cut off because of the floods that washed away several culverts along the Bottom road from Sinazeze to Chiyabi.
Mr. Apuleni said the health workers were unable to Transport drugs to Chiyabi clinic because of the impassable road.
Nangombe Ward Councilor Fisher Zimana said people in his area have run out of mealie Meal, cooking oil and other essential commodities.
Mr. Zimana who is also Sinazongwe District Council Vice Chairperson noted that the bridge along Nangombe stream which is the biggest in the area was washed away and the people in his area were unable to access basic food stuff.
“Please let government come to our aid people will die of hunger and we have completely run out of mealie-meal and cooking oil here,” Mr Zimana said.
However, Mr. Apuleni disclosed that a team of officers from the office of the Vice President under the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) would visit the district to assess the damage.
[ZANIS]
Lets see Levy’s Helicopter being used to transport aid quickly now.
I think there is need to make more routes to reach areas instead of relying on one. To bring about development to any region, town or city our planners should make it a priority of accessibility through multiple routes. This could prevent complete cut off of any region in the event of such catastrophes or at least reduce such burdens.
I don’t know why concerned authorities don’t act in good time even when danger is foreseen. It was known way before the onset of the rain season that this season will have floods yet no one thought of checking and re-enforcing bridges. No preparation for adversity was done. We always have to wait for disataer to strike.