Wahawec, 82, at last sees road reaching his village

The National People
An excavator belonging to AEA Construction clearing the Zafirio road. The contractor did not wait for the funds but in its own way went ahead to complete the 5km road. Nationalpics by LARRY ANDREW

By LARRY ANDREW
WAHAWEC Muhomowec, 82, watched as vehicles carrying officials arrived at his Zafirio village in Finschhafen, Morobe to celebrate the completion of the new road to the village.
Wahawec had been waiting for this moment to arrive and says he will “die a happy man” now that he has witnessed a road reaching his village.
He recalls the long struggle the villagers had been subjected to over the years, with most from his generation already passed on.
“I’m the only survivor from my era.”
Wahawec has six children – three daughters and three sons, plus 18 grandchildren. He did not say whether he went to school. He lived most his life in the village.
“Our children today have experienced the struggle we had been going through for years. Now with the new road to our village, we are relieved and overjoyed.”
He recalls the many hazardous and long trips he and fellow villagers had to take to carry a sick person to the Butawan Braun Hospital, walking through the jungle.
They also had to carry their garden produce such as coffee through the bushes to reach the nearest selling point. It took them two to three days.
He thanks Finschhafen MP Rainbo Paita for finally allocating district funds of K2 million to build the road, unlike his predecessors who ignored the village.
“Now we are really happy that finally a road has been built to reach our village. Our children can now access services easily.”
Zafirio village is in Ward Two of the Kotec local level government in Finschhafen. The five-kilometer road connects Zafirio to Merikio. It was opened on Sunday, April 18 by Paita.
Wahawec was born on Nov 2, 1939. He is the eldest in the village.
He joined his family and relatives in the celebrations, sitting on the village green under a tree, chewing buai.

“ I’m the only survivor from my era. I will now die a happy man.”
Finschhafen MP Rainbo Paita and guests arriving at Zafirio village for the opening of the Zafirio Road. The road is part of the Kotec ring road project cost K2 million.

He smiled as villagers welcomed Paita and district officials to Zafirio. It was a happy momentous occasion for the village.
He considers himself lucky to witness a vehicle reaching his village for the first time.
Now things are going to be different for the village. Days of men carrying coffee and garden produce on their shoulders through bush tracks to reach Nunduo, Wario and Keregia villages are over. They can now load them on vehicles at their doorsteps.
The Zafirio Road is part of the Kotec ring road project built by AEA Construction which has already been paid K500,000.
Zafirio villagers used to walk down to Merikio to catch transport. But if there is no transport there, they will walk all the way to Wario or even to Bonga where the main highway is. They then catch transport to Gagidu.
Now with the new road to the village, Wahawec knows his fellow villagers will not have to take that long walk anymore.
“ I will die a happy man.”