A new bridge is set to be constructed alongside the current Kamuzu Barrage in Liwonde, after the Malawi Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Dr. Allan Chiyembekeza launched the improvement of the barrage and other public works worth US$50m recently.
Dr. Chiyembekeza noted that rehabilitation and construction of the new bridge alongside the Kamuzu Bbarrage is part of water infrastructure projects funded for 15 years under the World Bank Shire River Basin Management Programme.
Kamuzu Barrage was opened in 1965 and has been in use since then.
Supervision and consultation work on the project will be done by Norplan firm from Norway, while construction civil works will be done by Conduril Engenharia, a firm from Portugal.
In addition, CMC Di Ravenna an Italian company has been given the tender to supply barrage gates and the control of weed formation on the Shire River through the supply of weed boom and weed collector.
Johan Skorve an engineering consultant noted that 14 new gates will be installed to replace the old ones for regulation of Shire River flow and checking of flooding downstream. This will also enable stable generation of electricity by ensuring that the level of water on Lake Malawi is sufficient.
The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Sandram Maweeru noted that although some firms have the tendency of extending the period in which a project is to be completed, this particular one will have no room for extension. This is due to sensitivity of its construction.
