A primary school teacher in the remote village of Chigwere in Traditional Authority Mkukula’s area has constructed a temporary bridge to help residents cross the Lumbadzi River during rainy season.

A teacher identified as Ezala Tembo, who teaches at Chigwere Primary School,  was motivated by the difficulties he and others faced crossing the surging river on the way to work and school.

“I used to have to cross almost naked, which was disgraceful,” Tembo said.

Tembo funded construction of the bridge entirely out of his own pocket, spending nearly K800,000 over two years to buy materials.

“I bought all the planks, poles and bamboo using money I had been saving,” he said.

Senior Chief Chigwere praised Tembo’s initiative, which he said would ease mobility challenges in the isolated area during the rainy season.

“The area becomes unreachable when the rains come, which greatly impacts schoolchildren, teachers, farmers and the whole community,” the chief said.

Initially skeptical when Tembo first approached him, the chief has now called on others to follow his example and help build a permanent bridge.

The temporary bamboo and wood bridge spans the river near Chigwere Primary School, located just outside the trading center of Msambo along the Lilongwe-Salima road.

The school falls under the jurisdiction of Traditional Authority Mkukula.

Tembo remains modest about his accomplishment. “I just want to help the people of my village,” he said.

Copied:The AfricaBrief