Africa-Press – Angola. The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, authorized the rehabilitation of National Roads 280 and 180, which connect Mavinga and Rivungo, a decision praised by the inhabitants of the province of Cuando Cubango, after the difficulties caused by the poor condition of these roads.
The contract starts in the next few days and includes the rehabilitation of 212 kilometers of track, in addition to the recovery of six bridges. The works are valued at US$275.4 million. Currently, the section is characterized by a long stretch of beaten earth and extensive areas of chanas. It is in an accentuated state of degradation.
In accordance with Presidential Decree no 94/23, the Head of State delegates powers to the Minister of Public Works, Urbanism and Housing, with the power to sub-delegate for the practice of all decision-making acts and supervisory approval, including the preparation of parts of the procedure, conclusion and signing of contracts.
The municipal administrator of Rivungo, João Wilson Tchimbinde, highlighted, on behalf of the population of the circumscription, this gesture by the Executive, because the rehabilitation of the section will improve the movement of people and goods.
He underlined that it is an asset that is greatly missed by the population of Rivungo, who almost live in total isolation, due to the lack of access roads in good conditions.
João Wilson Tchimbinde said that, given the distance and the advanced state of degradation of the roads, the seriously ill in Rivungo are forced to resort to medical assistance and medication in the Zambian town of Shangombo, on the border with the municipality. He explained that the journey by car from Rivungo to the city of Menongue and vice versa, a journey of around 700 kilometres, is a real ordeal, taking into account the advanced state of degradation of the access roads.
According to João Wilson Tchimbinde, the journey made by an all-terrain vehicle can last two days and by truck up to four days or more, depending on the technical state of the means of transport.
The municipal administrator assured that, with the rehabilitation of the Mavinga/Rivungo road, the population will see their suffering reduced and will have the ease of transporting various products to consumption centres.
“We will all gain from the execution of this imposing project, both the population, as well as traders and people who want to provide various services in the municipality of Rivungo”, he said.
João Wilson Tchimbinde made it known that, due to the advanced state of degradation of the access roads, many companies, especially those in civil construction, flee to provide services in Rivungo and those that risk taking a long time to finish a work, because of the difficulties they face in the transport of materials.
He stressed that the main calvary is in the Cuito Cuanavale/Mavinga and Mavinga/Rivungo sections, in a length of about 450 kilometres, due to sand, streams and trees in the form of beacons.
He underlined that, in rainy weather, trucks hardly circulate on the Rivungo/Mavinga section, because of the streams that, for the most part, overflow.
challenging route
João Ndala, a driver who travels frequently on the Cuito Cuanavale/Mavinga/Rivungo section, said that he only drives on this route who is really experienced and who is used to walking on trails with a lot of sand, streams and trees.
Because of the sand and the high temperature, it is advisable to drive from 5 pm to 10 am the next day, so as not to burst the tires and also warm up the engine. “Due to this fact, driving on this road, the vehicles have a short useful life”, he said, stressing that the Land-Cruiser HZ and trucks that circulate in this section always have problems with tyres, broken springs, damaged radiators and injectors. João Ndala he referred that the rehabilitation of the Mavinga/Rivungo road will make driving on this section comfortable.
He defended the need for the Executive to also make efforts to rehabilitate the Cuito Cuanavale/Mavinga section, a route of more than 220 kilometres, where demining work is underway.
Dino Zovo, an Education official in the municipality of Rivungo, said that he is looking forward to the rehabilitation of the road to the municipal headquarters of Mavinga, in view of the suffering that people are currently facing to circulate through the road.
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