.SIKWELA

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

GOVERNMENT has handed over a grader to the Copperbelt Rural Roads Unit (RRU) purchased at a cost of US$269,000.
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela said during the handover at the Government Stores plant in the industrial area in Ndola that it was expected that the procurement of the grader to work on rural roads on the Copperbelt would help meet the needs of the citizens in the rural Copperbelt.
Reverend Sikwela said Government was aware that the Copperbelt had both urban and rural citizens and it was its duty to ensure that both groups were supported.
“We are aware of the needs of both the rural and urban citizens and Government is doing everything to meet the aspirations of both groups.
“The grader will be used to open up the feeder roads which will help farmers ferry their produce efficiently,” Rev Sikwela said.
Rev Sikwela said he was happy that the supplier had handed over the grader within the stipulated time frame.
He warned the RRU employees against abusing the grader by hiring it to private individuals and organizations without proper clearance from authorities.
The employees, Rev Sikwela said, should also resist the temptation to drain fuel from the grader to earn some money privately.
He said any employee found guilty of abusing the grader would be punished.
RRU Copperbelt Engineer Willard Siwale said the grader had come at an appropriate time when farmers needed to take their produce to market places.
Mr Siwale said the rural roads that would be rehabilitated would also help Government institutions like clinics operate effectively.
He said he was happy that supplier of the grader Delta Auto Engineering of Kitwe had delivered the grader on time.