By MARTIN MUSUNKA –

.FQM

has spent in excess of K100 million on road rehabilitation interventions on the Chingola-Solwezi Road as of 2017, it has been learnt.
FQM, through its roads division, developed elaborate rehabilitation and maintenance systems to ensure the efficacy of the Chingola-Solwezi Road by intervening through road works where the total amount spent from 2014 to last year stands at K100,709,693.
The contribution by FQM during the period under review helped stabilise the highway, especially in 2016 when the entire stretch was in a deplorable state and practically on the verge of being washed away.
The mining company moved in to restore the road and attracted positive feedback from the traditional leadership and other stakeholders after substantial progress was recorded and averted the possibility of cutting North-Western Province from the rest of the country.
FQM government affairs manager, John Gladston said as a responsible corporate citizen, FQM was always superseding through plant and machinery, materials and labour in adding value to the entire stretch through continuous rehabilitation and maintenance of the Chingola-Solwezi Road.
In releasing the FQM’s financial outlay on the Chingola-Solwezi Road, Mr Gladston said K10,068,273 was spent in 2014 and the following year the project gobbled up K20,420,462 while the big chuck was in 2016 fetching K40,891,594 and last year, the amount spent was K20,329,364.
In 2016, at the height of widespread grievances about the poor state of the road, Senior Chief Kalilele of the Lamba people in Mushindamo District paid tribute to FQM for intervening in sprucing up the road, which was on the verge of collapsing.
He told FQM country manager Kingsley Chinkuli that the Chingola-Solwezi Road was of economic importance and commitment by FQM to rehabilitate and maintain the stretch was laudable and all well-meaning Zambians should appreciate the gesture. –Story courtesy of SUMA SYSTEMS