The Linoto Pholoana Memorial Bridge, situated along the Tsoaing River in the Mafeteng district, has been officially opened, at a ceremony presided by the Prime Minister Mr. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane on Friday August 02, 2024.
The reconstructed bridge has been sponsored by the Road Fund, to a tune of over M55 million, with over M42 million currently spent by the Contractor while the Consultant has spent over M8 million.
Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of his people, the Principal Chief of Matsieng, Chief Seeiso Bereng Seeiso, expressed his gratitude for the reconstructed bridge, which was destroyed by heavy rains a few years back.
He said the newly finished bridge has brought hope to the people, as it is bound to improve connectivity and access to essential services, increase trade and economic activity, while ensuring a safe passage during floods thereby boosting tourism activities in the area and beyond.
The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Matjato Moteane, mentioned that his Ministry has been mandated to build bridges and roads, and expressed his happiness at the rate at which the Ministry and Roads Directorate are working to achieve this.
He thanked the Road Fund for sponsoring the reconstruction of the bridge, adding that a total of 70 jobs were created and 10 subcontractors engaged during the works, contributing to employment creation and poverty alleviation. “Road Fund has also funded the Graduate Internship Programme which my Ministry is implementing, where 16 young Engineers have been engaged with the aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry by providing practical experience to them” he concluded.
In his inaugural speech, the Prime Minister emphasised the government’s commitment to ensure that peoples’ livelihoods in all corners of Lesotho are restored, hence fulfilment of the promise to reconstruct the bridge within the shortest possible time.
He said he was aware of the inconveniences that were caused by the bridge’s destruction on the community, particularly in accessing healthcare, education and economic activities, saying that those will be issues of the past.
The bridge is named the Linoto Pholoana Memorial Bridge in honour of Mr. Linoto Pholoana, a Mosotho man who is suspected to have lost his life when a bus was swept away at the bridge before its reconstruction. Unfortunately, Mr. Pholoana’s body was never found, hence the memorial.
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