Kawiru-wiru residents in Mzimba request bridge to end isolation
This isolation has had a devastating impact on the community, especially on its children and its healthcare system.
MZIMBA, MALAWI — The community of Kawiru-wiru, Traditional Authority Chindi, in Mzimba District is pleading for assistance in building a bridge to address the challenges they face during the rainy season, writes Kestina Frank.
For years, they have been isolated from the rest of the district during the rainy season, when the Lwanjazi River becomes impassable.
This isolation has had a devastating impact on the community, especially on its children and its healthcare system.
"It has been years since we have been assisted on the issue of a bridge," said Group Village Headman Katolora Mfune.
"Our worry as parents is that when it is the rainy season, most of our children do not go to school, and as a result, they fail their end-of-term exams."
The absence of a bridge has led to a high illiteracy rate among the youth of the area.
In addition, pregnant women have been forced to give birth on the side of the river, and people have been unable to attend funerals or seek medical care.
"This problem of a bridge is too much here," said community member Maliyeta Nyasulu.
"When it comes to the rainy season, we are unable to attend funerals on the other side. Women even deliver babies on their way to the hospital as the river becomes impassable when flooded."
Fumu Nyasulu, who had to drop out of school due to the difficulty of attending during the rainy season, emphasised the importance of a bridge in enabling education.
"A bridge would allow our children to go to school all year," he said.
"It would also make it easier for us to access healthcare and other essential services."
The community of Kawiru-wiru hopes that their plea for a bridge will be heard.
“As the community, we would be most grateful if our request were to be considered, as this would ease all of the challenges that we are facing,” Group Village Headman Katolora Mfune said.