LUBAYA
By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE-
ZAMBIA Army deputy commander Topply Lubaya has said the army is committed to constructing a permanent bridge at Kaunga Lueti River in Nalolo constituency, Western province.
Major General Lubaya said it would be folly for the Kaunga Luenti Bailey Bridge to be constructed hurriedly and be washed away within a short period of time because the millions of Kwacha spent on it would go to waste.
He was speaking on Saturday when he together with Western Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Seyuba, Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), the Zambia Army and Road Development Agency (RDA) officials inspected the bridge project to check on the progress.
The bridge which has reached almost 80 percent in terms of construction would connect four districts, namely Nalolo, Kalabo, Shangombo and Sioma.
Gen Lubaya said that although there had been concerns from some stakeholders that the project had taken long to be completed, it was important for the work to be done professionally.
He said that he had been receiving reports of delayed works but his men could not use shortcuts to build the bridge because the most important thing was deliver the work with a professional touch.
“Work must be done properly, professionally to specifications and then we open up roads as required by the people of this area” Gen Lubaya said.
He said he was sure that the officers working on the bridge were committed to finishing the project in the next six weeks.
Mr Seyuba said his office was aware about the many challenges faced by the officers in the construction of the bridge such as lack of machinery but that it was better for them to build a bridge with good standards.
Mr Seyuba said the project was important as it would connect the four districts to the rest of the province. Government he added was committed to ensuring that all the needed resources and materials were in place to complete the project.
RDA regional manager Gershom Magomba said the bridge was damaged due to floods in the Lueti which had made it difficult for people to access health facilities and schools by pupils.
