Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

A model for inclusive infrastructure and community empowerment takes root in Chongwe.

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Kasisi, Zambia24 – (23 -05 - 2025) - 

The government has commissioned the construction of a lifesaving pedestrian bridge connecting Kasisi and Kasenga Wards in Chongwe District.

The bridge valued at approximately US$100,000 (K1.8 million), is co-funded by Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), with calls for greater government co-investment, and is expected to improve year-round access to essential services for over 33,000 residents who face dangerous river crossings, especially during the rainy season.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, B2P Country Director Nachilala Nkombo emphasized that the project is not just about infrastructure, but about restoring dignity and saving lives.

“This bridge is a lifeline. Children should not risk drowning to get to school, and women should not be cut off from clinics. We believe restoring safe access and dignity should be a top development priority for the country,” Nkombo said.

“We are informed that last year alone, three people lost their lives trying to cross this river,” she revealed.

“Children have been stranded on the far side, unable to return home from school, leaving parents anxious and fearful. These stories are tragic, but they also motivate us to act.”

Bridges to Prosperity has identified over 3,000 dangerous crossing points in Zambia and is advocating for the expansion of the bridge program nationwide.

“We are calling on communities and government agencies to prioritize safe access infrastructure,” said Nkombo.

“It doesn’t always have to be us building the bridges. Others can step in, but the goal remains the same—safe, sustainable development.”

She recounted a heartbreaking video received earlier this year, showing schoolchildren crossing the Jungle River with water up to their waists—a situation that sparked the urgent need for action.

The 12-meter-high steel and climate-resilient bridge, constructed using local materials, is designed to accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes, and livestock—critical means of transport in rural Zambia.

Construction is expected to be completed in three months, ahead of the next rainy season.

The design is environmentally friendly, requiring minimal land and preserving surrounding vegetation.

“This solution causes minimal disruption to the ecosystem while ensuring year-round access to markets, schools, and clinics,” said Nkombo.

The project is expected to create local jobs during its construction phase and improve farmers' access to markets.

“With better access, farmers can move produce more efficiently, improving incomes and livelihoods,” Nkombo explained.

Lives Lost Spark Urgent Action

The need for the bridge became undeniable after three people tragically lost their lives trying to cross the river in months. 

This project is part of B2P’s wider mission to reduce poverty by ending rural isolation through low-cost, sustainable infrastructure, Nkombo concluded.

Masebo says the construction of a new pedestrian bridge connecting Kasisi and Kasenga villages in Chongwe District will be a lifesaving development for the local community, especially schoolchildren and patients who have been risking their lives crossing unsafe streams to access education and healthcare.

“This project is not just about infrastructure—it’s about saving lives and restoring dignity,” Masebo said during the groundbreaking ceremony. 

“It will improve access to schools, clinics, and markets, ensuring that people, particularly women and children, can move safely and freely.”

Masebo explained that the bridge forms part of a wider national rural transport initiative that uses innovative and climate-friendly technologies to improve connectivity. 

She emphasized that such developments are key to unlocking economic opportunities and social cohesion in underserved areas.

“We are empowering communities to build and maintain these structures themselves. This ensures that skills and capacities are retained locally, guaranteeing sustainability,” she said.

The Kasenga bridge, one of 15 similar projects underway, will also serve as a demonstration site and training ground for local artisans. 

Masebo underscored the government's focus on decentralization, noting that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) now allows for community-driven infrastructure development.

Chongwe Member of Parliament echoed Masebo’s remarks, noting that several other wards in the district face similar challenges due to numerous rivers and collapsed bridges.

“What’s happening today is the community’s own decision, made under a truly decentralized government. This bridge is a direct response to their need,” he said.

He added that the last rainy season saw numerous lives lost due to unsafe crossings, making the project a crucial investment in public safety.

The project is being implemented through a partnership between government, the private sector, and local stakeholders, pooling resources beyond the CDF allocation.

Speaking during the launch of the bridge project, Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) Chief Operations Officer Donald Muvunduse highlighted the urgent need for safe and reliable infrastructure in the Kasisi-Kasenga area, where residents are forced to cross a hazardous river, especially during the rainy season.

Muvunduse explained that the planned pedestrian bridge, expected to be completed before the end of September, is part of a broader campaign by B2P to reduce rural isolation and improve livelihoods.

The project is designed to be low-cost, sustainable, and resilient, ultimately providing critical access to healthcare, education, and markets for the affected communities.

He stated that the project is already at an advanced planning stage, with technical drawings completed and construction scheduled to begin shortly.

“A typical bridge of this type costs around US$100,000. While Bridges to Prosperity is contributing significantly, we are also encouraging government counterparts to co-invest in this effort,” he said.

The initiative aligns with B2P’s mandate to support governments in delivering equitable infrastructure solutions in underserved regions.

Muvunduse commended the collaborative approach with the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Local Government, and the local council.

“As the African proverb goes: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” he noted, stressing the importance of public-private partnerships in infrastructure development.

Local Community Reaction

Humphrey Natala, Chairperson of the Ward Development Committee, hailed the bridge as transformative:

“This bridge represents hope. It connects our children to schools, our women to clinics, and our farmers to markets. It's a milestone for Kasisi and Kasenga.”

“We are building more than bridges. We are restoring dignity, protecting dreams, and transforming communities—one crossing at a time.”