By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –

THE African Development Bank (AfDB) will finance the construction of the Chinsali-Nakonde Road at the cost of US$250 million.
AfDB officer-in-charge for Zambia, Philip Boahen said the Bank would provide the resources for the rehabilitation of the 210 kilometre Road at the cost of $250 million.
The project forms a section of the Trans-Africa Highway/North-South Corridor.
Mr Boahen said the project aims at improving road transport infrastructure and services through development of the priority road corridor to reduce transport costs between northern Zambia and southern Tanzania.
This is to facilitate cross-border trade, enhance tourism, and promote integration of the East Africa Community (EAC), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
It would also improve accessibility for the communities in the zone of influence to markets and social services and contribute to the reduction of poverty taking into account green and inclusive growth.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Boahen explained that civil works for the Chinsali-Nakonde section would be implemented in two lots, namely the construction of 110 kilometers Isoka-Nakonde and 100 km Chinsali-Isoka road.
The civil works are to be implemented in parallel, estimated construction time of 30 months each.
Mr Boahen said the feasibility, preliminary design and detailed engineering design and environmental and social economic impact assessment studies had been completed and have been reviewed by the Bank.
A resettlement action plan has been finalised for posting. The Bank has already approved advance contracting for the Zambian Government to start procurement process.
The project appraisal was conducted in October 2014, and it is anticipated that the project shall be presented for Board consideration in the third quarter of 2015.
The main components of the entire project include, civil works, the rehabilitation of the Chinsali – Nakonde road section, rehabilitation of 50km of feeder roads and complementary initiatives/ social infrastructure, among others.
The Trans-Africa Highway/North South Corridor (TAH/NSC) is a joint COMESA-EAC-SADC Aid for Trade initiative.
The Corridor system, with its spurs, services eight countries – Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa.