PRESIDENT SATA

By KAIKO NAMUSA-

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has disclosed that the ongoing road projects countrywide have so far created 18, 070 jobs.
Mr Sata has also resounded Government’s determination to tackle hurdles in transport infrastructure, which he said impeded growth and economic diversification.
Giving an update on infrastructure development and the total number of jobs created in the road sector, Mr Sata said growth in this area was a source of employment and an enabler of economic development.
“I am determined to address the challenges in our country’s transport infrastructure as these remain the major constraints to growth, economic diversification and human development,” he said.
In a Facebook posting on his official page yesterday, the President said Government’s goal was to accelerate economic development of the prioritised economic sectors through provision of improved quality, efficient and safe transport infrastructure.
He said job statistics in the road sector which were recorded on Monday this week revealed that Lusaka Province recorded the highest figure of 2, 595 followed by Northern Province at 2, 409.
Eastern Province recorded 2, 174 jobs, Luapula had 2, 128 jobs, Muchinga, 2, 112, Copperbelt, 2, 074.
Western Province had 1, 653, Southern, 1,417, Central had 1, 121 while North Western had 387.
Mr Sata said the construction of the K53 million Chiawa Bridge across the Kafue River would be completed by the end of next month.
He said once complete, the Chiawa Bridge would provide the shortest and vital link between the Lower Zambezi and Lusaka Province thereby contributing to the development of agriculture and tourism sectors.
Furthermore, Mr Sata said the construction of the Chiawa Bridge would reduce transportation costs and improve accessibility for rural communities, thus provide better access to amenities such as markets, schools and health facilities.
The country’s major road works were categorised under the Link Zambia 8, 000 project which would be implemented over a five-year period, at a cost of K28.4 billion and targeted to create 24, 000 jobs countrywide especially for the youths.
The first phase of works under the Link Zambia project would result in the construction of around 2, 290 kilometers of roads at an estimated cost of K7.9 billion.
The second phase would cover 3, 049 km of road network at an estimated cost of K11.25 billion while the third phase would involve upgrading 2, 862 km of road at an estimated cost of K9 trillion.
Job creation under the Pave Zambia 2, 000 project, was projected at 20, 000 and the cost of implementation was approximately K1.6 billion.