Project # 043 - Mazwapa Suspended Bridge

Location: Zambia, Lusaka Province
Bridge Sponsors: Rotary clubs of Newport News, Virginia USA and Nkwazi,
Lusaka, Zambia.
Partners: Road Development Authority
Volunteers: Henry Ngulube, Ken Hodge, Rocky Sombe, Nkole Bwalya, Ken
Frantz, and many other Rotarians from the Nkwazi club.
Dedications: Tripp & Katie Spencer

Bridge name: Mazwapa
River name: Chimwemwe (River of Happiness)
Bridge span: 27 meters / 90 feet
Population served by bridge: 20,000 people

Bridge Story: Lusaka's northern outskirts are cut in half by the Chimwemwe River. On one side are the homes of the Roma residential area, and the other the poor semi-rural community of Mazwapa. The residents of Mazwapa rely on the jobs, schools, and markets on the other side of the river. However, the can only cross the river when the river is low enough to place old steel railway rails across the stream bed stones. Crossing this way, is very risky. Also, those that place the rails across the stream bed during low water, often charge 1000 Kwacha (about $.30) to cross each way. This is a huge amount to charge the poor, and substantially restricts free commerce. Also, there is a school on one side of the river that requires the children of Mazwapa to cross back and forth to daily. However, these children are forced to miss school, or make a very long detour.

This is a very high traffic crossing, where a year around bridge will make a huge impact on the community.