Road upgrade brings hope to isolated Lumusa communities
Thousands of people in Lumusa Local Level Government (LLG) in Western Highlands Province are set to benefit from improved road access after K700,000 was committed to upgrade one of the district's most neglected road links.
The funding, announced on Friday last week, will see the Kunjilama-Kaymanda Road upgraded for the first time, bringing hope to communities along the Western Highlands-Enga provincial border that have endured decades of poor and often impassable road conditions.
Often described as the "last frontier" of Western Highlands Province, Lumusa has remained one of the province's most isolated local level governments, with poor road access limiting the delivery of government services and economic opportunities.
Mul Baiyer District Development Authority [DDA] Chairman and Local MP Jacob Maki presented a K500,000 cheque to local contractor Lipu Engineering to immediately begin work on the road upgrade. The payment follows an earlier K200,000 mobilisation fee, bringing the total funding released to the contractor to K700,000.
The project is funded by the Mul Baiyer District Development Authority and counter-funded by the Western Highlands Provincial Government, which has committed K500,000 in support of the district's priority to improve road connectivity throughout Mul, Baiyer and Lumusa.
MP Maki said improving road infrastructure remains one of the DDA's highest priorities because roads are the foundation for development.
"For many years our people in Lumusa have struggled because this road has been neglected. We are changing that. This investment is about connecting our people to schools, health centres, markets and other government services. We are committed to ensuring every part of Mul Baiyer benefits from development," Maki said.
He said the DDA would continue working with the provincial government to improve vital road links that have been neglected for many years.
He also urged the people living along the Kunjilama-Kaymanda Road to look after the workers and not interfere with construction progress.
Lumusa LLG President Kura Lipu welcomed the funding, describing it as a historic moment for communities that have waited decades for proper road access.
"On behalf of the people of Lumusa, I sincerely thank MP Jacob Maki and the Mul Baiyer DDA, together with the Western Highlands Provincial Government under Wai Rapa, for hearing the cries of our people. This road has been a major challenge for many years, and today's funding gives us hope that development is finally reaching our communities," Mr Lipu said.
He said the road upgrade would improve transportation, reduce the hardships faced by local people, and create opportunities for agriculture, business and easier access to essential services.