By CATHERINE NYIRENDA and SYLVIA MWEETWA –
THE Kapiri Mposhi weighbridge, which has been refurbished at a cost of K31 million, was yesterday re-opened and will be able to clear 1,000 trucks in a day.
This is the first ever electronically operated state-of-the-art weighbridge which will clear at least 1000 trucks in a day compared to the old one which would clear only 500 trucks a day.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said the weigh bridge was important to safeguard the huge sums of money that Government was spending in the construction of roads.
The facility will be able to regulate the tonnage of axle being transported.
“If the road network old and new begins to deteriorate due to uncontrolled weight that it is being subjected to the cost of repairing will be unbearable and Government would continue spending money on this exercise,” Mr Mukanga said.
He said Government was passionate about the newly-introduced programme dubbed Axle load control by the Road Development Agency (RDA) which would deter overloading and ensure all truckers strictly adherence to the axle limit.
The weighbridge constructed by Sino-hydro Corporation was part of the link Zambia 8000 project that was launched by President Micahel Sata in 2012.
He said Government was not happy with the level of performance of other weigh-bridges dotted around the country operating manually which is below SADC standards.
“To this end, Government has embarked on upgrading these facilities starting with Kapiri Mposhi. Government believes that the refurbishment of this weighbridge will ultimately decongest heavy traffic that is marooned at Kafue weighbridge as well as other weighbridges across the country,” he said.
RDA board chairperson Willie Nsanda said the poor state of weighbridges around the country was grossly affecting the efficiency of these premises and something had to be done as a matter of urgency to save bulk transporters.
Zambia currently has eight weighbridges across the country, which are all operating manually except for the newly refurbished Kapiri Mposhi weighbridge.
