Luanda - The road connection between the cities of Malanje and Saurimo, the latter capital of the province of Lunda-Sul, has become easier with the rehabilitation and expansion of the National Road 230 (EN-230).
By Domingos Cambiete, ANGOP journalist
A little less than a year ago, driving on the EN230 was an adventure that required from users, especially truck drivers, patience and skill behind the wheel, due to the numerous obstacles on the road, especially during the rainy season.
The renovation of the asphalt carpet already allows you to contemplate the beautiful plains, mountains, villages and their inhabitants along the way, a scenario that was previously almost impossible, mainly due to the dust on the road.
The 630-kilometre route, which used to take 12 hours because of potholes, dust and mud, is now done in about eight hours, to the satisfaction of users.
The Malanje-Saurimo section has been rehabilitated and expanded by different construction contractors divided into several lots, approximately 60 to 80 kilometers.
The first lots covered the Malanje/Caculama, Caculama/Rio Lui (Malanje), Rio Lui/Xá-Muteba, Xá-Muteba/Cangola and Muxinda (Lunda-Norte), Muamussanda/Sapimbe (54.77 kilometres), Sapimbe/Rio Tô (61 kilometres), Rio Tô/Rio Peso (72), Rio Peso/Saurimo (81) and Circular de Saurimo (60 kilometres).
According to engineer Júlio Oquendo, director of works at the company MATRA, responsible for the rehabilitation of the Rio Lui/Vila de Xá-Muteba lot, the vertical and horizontal signaling and the eight kilometers of drainage on the road are being finalized.
According to many road users, making the trip along the EN230 has become a pleasurable mission today, due to the satisfaction of bringing goods and people to the eastern region of Angola, and the fact that it is done safely.
Among the 'adventurers' of the past is Alexandre Suzana, a truck driver for more than 14 years, who says he is satisfied with the rehabilitation of the road.
The professional says that the work provided a smooth movement of people and goods, in addition to shortening the travel time.
“'Before, it took many hours to get to Saurimo and it was a real ordeal, with many potholes, dust and mud in the mix', emphasized the motorist, as he refueled his truck at the fuel pumps in Xá-Muteba.
For Celestino Angelino, also a truck driver, the rehabilitation of the road is making life easier for all the people who daily take this route, where many users have already seen their vehicles damaged due to the poor condition of it at the time.
Who also says he is satisfied is the journalist Manzambi André, who in 2022 made the same route, on a service mission, in about 12 hours on the Malanje-Saurimo section, with numerous difficulties due to the conditions of the road.
As I enjoyed the landscapes of the hill of Kabatukila and the downtown of Kassanje, in the commune of Xandel, municipality of Quela, in Malanje, Caculama, Mucari, Xá-Muteba, Kapenda-Camulemba, Xinge, Muxinda, I collected images.
The landscape of Kabatukila represents a temptation for many men behind the wheel, who minimize the danger in the place dominated by curves and counter-curves.
In the village of Muxinda (very busy day and night), small commercial shops (canteens, barbershops and low-class restaurants) stand out. There, the result of artisanal diamond activity is visible, just over 100 meters from the road.
In addition to the rehabilitation of the road, in some villages, along the route, solar energy stations were installed, occupying increasingly larger spaces in society, being an alternative that goes beyond the application in homes and businesses.
The rehabilitation works of the Malanje-Saurimo section are part of the Executive's Strategic Programme for the improvement of the country's transport system.
Data from the Ministry of Public Works, Urbanism and Housing show that, in all, the Government disbursed about $630 million dollars for the rehabilitation and expansion of about 630 kilometers of the EN-230, including 10 bridges, of the Malanje/Saurimo section (Lunda-Sul).
With the rehabilitation of the road linking the East to the coast, there are good prospects for the population of the region to make it easier for the population of the region to reach other parts of the country and to regularly receive products from other regions. DC/VM/DOJ
