By SENT TIMBI
More than 10,000 people of the seven council wards in Hapwara and Kuwar areas in the lower Nebilyer district, Western Highlands province constructed a 25km feeder road.
The villagers used spades, bush knives and other resources locally available to construct the road.
The construction of the 25km road, which started last Thursday is expected to be completed in two months time.
The new feeder road would connect Kailge primary school to the main highway at Waipip.
The villagers decided to construct the road after their old road was destroyed by their enemy tribe Kulga during the on going warfare since 2005.
So far 3km of road was constructed during the last three days and yesterday was their fifth day to continue work on the road.
Council wards that engaged in the construction include Tea Dena, Kutka Mindip, Epla Eila Galga, Kumbka, Tepka Komp and Kungneka Aklimb.
Chairman of the road project councillor Stanley Algma said the people from Hapwara and Kuwar areas suffered and no Government services reached them after a fierce gun battle with their enemy tribe.
He said one primary and four elementary schools include Kailge aidpost run by the Catholic church were closed because of transportation problem.
Mr Algma said the people living at Hapwara had to walked 25km to Waipip to transport their cash crops to Mt Hagen city.
He said after realising the hardship they had gone through, the people decided to build this road.
“I am appealing to the Western Highlands provincial government, the Member for Tambul Nebilyer Benjamin Poponawa and the National Government and other donor agencies to assist them in building the bridge across the Nebilyer River and also put gravel on the road,” he said.
He said when they travelled on the old road that linked through their enemy’s territory, they were terrorised by the Kulga tribesmen that usually turned into tribal fights.
“We are now building a new road to start a new life and also resort basic services into our area,” he said.