Residents in the north-western part of Kasungu District, under Traditional Authorities Chisinga and Chulu, says the collapse of several bridges has disrupted trade activities in the area as transportation has increasingly become difficult.

Following heavy rains which fell in December last year, several bridges including Kakuku and Kambala , which link Malawi and Zambia in Chisinga, as well as Miyowe and Chioza in Chulu, were washed away, and are yet to be repaired.

Speaking to Zodiak on Tuesday, Traditional Authority Chisinga described the situation as a major setback to economic activities, saying traders are struggling to access the main Chisinga market because of poor road connectivity.

"Access to health services has also become a serious challenge, as some residents are required to cross the damaged bridges in order to reach nearby health facilities," Chisinga added.

On his part, Member of Parliament for the area, Joseph Mseteka, acknowledged that the damaged infrastructure has negatively affected several aspects of people’s lives, including trade and access to affordable farming inputs.

Mseteka, however, assured residents that consultations with government authorities through the District Council have already taken place, and rehabilitation works on the damaged bridges are expected to commence soon.

"Restoration of the bridges will ease the transportation of agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and help revive cross-border trade activities with neighbouring Zambia, which have currently stalled," he concluded.

The December rains did not only affect bridges in Kasungu, as they also destroyed several households. According to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) report, at least 2,775 houses were affected.