Africa-Press – Angola. The provincial governor of Moxico, Ernesto Muangala, informed Saturday that the Executive will work on the rehabilitation of the section of milestone 25 (Cazombo).
Ernesto Muangala said that the populations face difficulties in circulation, due to the degradation of the communication routes between the localities and asked for urgent support from the Central Executive to help the situation.
Speaking to the press after X-ray work in the Upper Zambezi, in view of this desolate scenario, Muangala said he had asked the ministerial departments to speed up the process of hiring a company to start the construction work on the road.
“We feel the need to be with the authorities to demonstrate the concern of the provincial government and explain the guidelines for the start of works”, he stressed, after driving a Kamaz military truck along a 192-kilometre stretch between landmark 25 and the town of Cazombo to reach the destination (municipality of Alto Zambeze).
According to the governor, with each passing day the road deteriorates, further complicating the movement of people and goods between Luau and Alto Zambeze, which made him resort to the Presidential Order authorizing the expense and formalizing the opening of the simplified hiring procedure
for the rehabilitation of the Luau/Cazombo/Lumbala Caquengue section, covering a length of 247 kilometres.
“We ask for the understanding of the ministerial departments for the beginning of the works, because the people are suffering and should not continue like this”, he lamented, admitting that “the municipality cannot remain isolated from the rest of the province”. by truck to Alto Zambeze, Muangala replied: “I had no alternative. Small vehicles cannot reach the headquarters. Therefore, we resort to military trucks to arrive safely”.
He underlined the need for the government official to be with the population in order to better understand the concerns of the inhabitants, which is why he added that the Executive will work on the rehabilitation of the section of milestone 25 (Cazombo).
Under normal conditions, a trip to Alto Zambeze takes two hours by road, however, due to severe degradation, it takes 11 hours.
Degradation of the Luau/Cazombo route increases the journey from two to 11 hours
The advanced state of degradation of the National Road (EN250), on the Luau/Cazombo section, in Moxico province, increased the normal travel time from two to 11 hours, posing great challenges to the population.
Last weekend, Governor Ernesto Muangala went to see the outcry of the inhabitants up close.
It confirmed the severe state of degradation of the road, the mobility of people and goods significantly reduced between the municipal seats of Alto Zambeze (Cazombo) and Luau (Luau), making the village of Cazombo increasingly isolated from the rest of the province.
The trip to that region became a true “ordeal”, as it is only possible to be carried out with high-traction military trucks, such as the Kamazes, used by the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).
Ponds and ponds on the road lead to many potholes. In some spots, more than two meters deep. These obstacles “consumed” the road.
The section from Cavungo/Cazombo, 62 kilometers long, is the most critical. It takes five hours to walk around.
Of the 18 Toyota vehicles, model Land Cruiser, which transported the delegation led by Governor Ernesto Muangala, to that municipality, they were forced to interrupt the journey from Cavungo commune to Cazombo, due to inability to get around the holes and huge lakes.
This fact even forced the leaders (Muangala; the vice-governor for the Political, Social and Economic sector, Victor da Silva; deputies to the National Assembly from the provincial circle; among others) to continue their journey aboard a military truck ( Kamaz) to the village of Cazombo.
In all, the round trip “marathon”, a journey of 252 kilometres, between the municipal headquarters of Luau and Cazombo, lasted more than 22 hours.
Motorcycles facilitate trade and movement of people
In view of the degradation of the road, there are few vehicles that circulate on the route, with the exception of two Kamazes, responsible for transporting passengers from Cazombo to Luau and vice versa, charging 15,000 kwanzas each person.
To satisfy needs, the use of motorbikes, known as Kupapata, has been the alternative for residents who pay 30,000 kwanzas per trip between Cazombo and Luau.
People fear total isolation
Justina Chinhama, one of the Upper Zambezi traders, lamented that the state of the Cazombo/Luau road is forcing the population to travel to the border with Zambia, to buy some products.
“We are feeling sick because of this road. Vehicle owners who risk this section charge 13,000 to 15,000 kwanzas per person, not counting luggage”, he complained, considering that many traders are taking advantage of the condition of the track in poor condition to speculate prices.
On the same occasion, motorcycle taxi driver Pascoal Bento, called for urgent intervention by the authorities, so that they can facilitate the movement of people and goods, an opinion corroborated by citizen Alberto Mateus.
“This situation is already unsustainable. We are tired of suffering. The Government must review this”, reiterated Pascoal Bento.
The municipality of Alto Zambeze, 519 kilometers east of the city of Luena, comprises the communes of Nana Candundo, Macondo, Caianda, Calunda, Lumbala Kaquengue, Lóvua and Cazombo (headquarters).
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