By DELPHINE ZULU –
ROAD transport is essential to Zambia’s economic and social well-being.
However, many existing roads have reached the limits of their capacity, therefore, to ensure continued or improved efficiency, effectiveness and safety, constructing, rehabilitating and maintaining them is necessary.
Benefits of good roads include improved safety, minimised adverse impacts on the environment due to reduced congestion, improved mobility and energy efficiencies, as well as enhanced economic productivity from reduced travel times.
This is exactly why the Government, through the Road Development Agency (RDA) is working on roads countrywide to ensure that the benefits of good roads stimulate growth in various sectors of the economy.
The Link Zambia 8000, Lusaka 400 and Pave Zambia are the projects that have been launched to turn around the country’s poor road network.
On the Copperbelt, for example, there are several roads under construction and rehabilitation to enhance economic productivity.
Lufwanyama, one of the 10 Copperbelt districts, has seen a historical major facelift on the road network that had not been upgraded to bituminous standard since independence in 1964.
RDA has recorded tremendous achievements in its quest to provide the country with world class road network with the recent one being the completion of the Kalulushi-Lufwanyama road.
Senior manager for public relations Loyce Saili said during the tour of the road construction and rehabilitation projects on the Copperbelt that RDA is impressed that the 60 kilometre Kalulushi-Lufwanyama road has finally been tarred at the cost of K123 million.
Ms Saili says with this major achievement and other unprecedented road construction projects countrywide,
RDA has something to show for Zambia as it celebrates the Golden Jubilee this year.
She says due to the improved road network, Lufwanyama is now open for more development activities as evidenced by the number of companies operating in that area as well as the increased business volumes.
After the completion of the Kalulushi Lufwanyama road, the face of the district is certainly poised for other major infrastructure development like banks, hospital, Police station, schools and agricultural farming companies.
“Our focus now is to ensure that all contractors work according to schedule and give Zambians quality roads, the Kalulushi-Lufwanyama road is just one mark progress made in this province, we are happy people will have easy access to public facilities,” Ms Saili said.
The RDA is also working on five kilometres of township roads and bridges.
This is aimed at easing the transportation of farming produce which has been a major challenge since the country got its independence in 1964.
Upgrading of the remaining 125 kilometre stretch leading to North-western Province has advanced and the feasibility study has already been done.
Opening of this route would be an alternative link between the Copperbelt and Western provinces.
District Commissioner Alex Kalela said priority should be given to roads leading the chiefdoms during the rehabilitation of township roads.
Mr Kalela says due to bad roads, more than 23,000 bags of maize went to waste last year, a situation that would not happen again.
Some beneficiaries spoken to said Lufwanyama District will develop economically because of the improved road network.
RDA also inspected progress made on the construction of the Kitwe-Chingola Dual Carriageway and the works were said to be progressing well.
Once completed, this project would reduce road traffic accidents which have been the order of the day.
The RDA was, however, not impressed with contractors that were engaged to
upgrade township roads and has since terminated the contract after Mivami Company failed to complete a stretch of 23.5 kilometres at a cost of K8.9 million.
Only 34 per cent of works have been done.
RDA has since given Chingola a priority and decided to start with 50 kilometre stretch of township roads under the Pave Zambia 2000 project.
The agency in the process of constructing a new road across the Kafue River immediately after completing the construction of the Mufuchani Bridge whose contract was awarded to China Henan.
After completion, the projects would attract investment and help reduce congestion in Ndola and Kitwe as well as speeding up the opening of New Kitwe across the river.
Copperbelt acting regional manager Pandeki Chabala said the designs have been done and submitted but waiting for approval before works could start next year.
The 60 kilometre Ndola-Kitwe Dual Carriageway is progressing well with 53 per cent of works so far covered.
The seven kilometre road to Ndola Girls Technical Secondary School and Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Site would also be worked on, at the cost of K311.03 million.
The Kalulushi-Sabina and Indeni-Fatima roads have been completed at the cost of K82 million as well as two bridges to connect Lubuto and Twapia townships.
The road leading to Chieftainess Malembeka area has been worked on.
Mr Chabala says the Pave Zambia 2000 has created more than 2000 jobs and is
expected to double as the project progresses, saying all the equipment
had been received and ready to start.
Ms Saili, however, said RDA emphasises the need to have all roads under construction completed within the stipulated time-frame work and would not hesitate to terminate any contractor delaying the works.
She said systems to enhance the performance of contractors and consultants alike have been put in place with its focus to ensure that all ongoing works in the Copperbelt are completed and give beneficiaries good roads and continue recording economic growth as it is known for.
