Locals fund bridge to connect Jiwaka, Mt Hagen

THE Moge-Komonka and Kuipe clansmen in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, are taking their own initiative to build a bailey bridge across the Kum River.
The Moge tribesmen are using the Koma-Kalina community development association as the vehicle to drive this self-funded community development project.
Chairman Peter Bakri Kiap, deputy Gabriel Walua Penti, treasurer Steven James and community representative John Cannon organised a gathering on Saturday at Mamda village where they raised K9,490.
The money was banked into the association’s bank account on Monday.
Kiap said according to the Department of Works costing provided to them in June, last year, they aimed to raise K280,000 to build the bridge.
He said the community would meet every month at Mamda village and contribute until they reached their target.
The 21-meter bridge would connect people living at the border of Jiwaka into Mt Hagen.
Kiap said the Department of Works handed them an old bailey bridge left idle at Baiyer in 2017.
He said through contributions, they raised K30,000 which they used to hire trucks and labour to dismantle and transport the bridge’s frames to the project site.
He said the community had also built a 3.2km road from Tega and Mamda.
He said students and tourists would benefit from this project.
Kiap said their elected leaders would assist in their own timing.
“We are trying to help ourselves here, if they want to come in and assist, it’s up to our leaders, we can’t force them,” he said.