Over 12, 700 people in Ngabwe District of Central Province have been cut off from essential services following the government decision to decommission the pontoon on the Kafue River.
The affected areas are Ngabwe, Luamala and Chisangwa wards that are all in Ngabwe Chiefdom across the Kafue River, the most productive in the district in terms of livestock and agriculture produce.
Ngabwe District Commissioner (DC) Stanley Mwendachabe announced the decommissioning in an interview with ZANIS, citing serious safety concerns that had turned the water crossing into a danger to life.
Mr Mwendachabe said the decision to stop operations of the water ferry was not taken lightly but was necessary to protect residents who depend on it to move goods, especially farm produce between the two sides of the river.
“There are a lot of farmers across the river. People and goods could not go to the other side of the Kafue River,” Mr Mwendachabe said.
He said the decision was arrived at after it became apparent that the operations of the pontoon were no longer sustainable because the seepage of water had become worse.
“The pontoon had become a danger to life. We can’t sacrifice the lives of the people,” He said.
Mr Mwendachabe noted that the suspension of the ferry has already disrupted a number of activities in the district, particularly movement of people and transportation of goods to the other side of the river.
He explained that the situation is especially challenging because communities in Ngabwe Chiefdom, which is across the river, are the most productive in the district, particularly in agriculture and livestock production.
“People and goods cannot easily go to the other side of the river at the moment. Yet the people across the river are very productive in agriculture and livestock. This has affected the movement of farm produce and other economic activities,” he said.
He explained that Ngabwe Town Council had paid for the repair of the pontoon but the rehabilitation process has been delayed due to procurement procedures that must be followed before the works can commence.
“The council has already paid for the repair works. Unfortunately, the process has taken longer because of procurement procedures that have to be followed,” he said.
Mr Mwendachabe has since appealed to the government to urgently intervene and help expedite the repair works so that the pontoon can be restored and normal activities resume in the district.
“I’m appealing to the government to come to the aid of the people of Ngabwe so that the pontoon can be quickly repaired,” he said.
And Senior Village Headman Mwapwa, Langson Penyanyi has appealed to elective leaders in the area to help fix the pontoon while Chisangwa Ward Councillor Kingstone Musakabantu appealed to the government for a permanent bridge at the crossing point.
