. Chiwala

By SYLVESTER MWALE –
THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has contracted Nzovu Transport Enterprises to construct the first six toll plazas under the second phase of the national tolling programme.
RDA chief executive officer Bernard Chiwala said in a statement in Lusaka on Friday that the K83.9-million contract would see the construction of the first three plazas.
The first one would be built at Kafulafuta in between Kapiri Mposhi and Ndola while the second one would be at Munyumbi in between Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi with the third one to be constructed in Choma in Southern Province.
Mr Chiwala said the tolling programme under phase two would cover all vehicle classifications ranging from small to heavy vehicles.
“This contract would be executed at a contract sum of K83,899,359.33 with completion period of nine months,” he said.
The agency has also contracted Shire Construction Company for the construction of another set of toll plazas at a total cost of K74.4 million.
Mr Chiwala said in the third phase, the Shire Construction Company was expected to build Ganerton Plaza which is located in between Sabina and Kitwe as well as at Kamfinsa and at Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The works are also expected to be done within nine months after signing the contract.
The Government launched the first phase of the National Road Tolling Programme through the RDA in November last year.
The first phase established collection of tolls from Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) on weighbridges on the core network as well as key ports of entry in the country.
The agency has collected more than K258 million as toll fees since the programme started.
The programme marks the beginning of the implementation of a self sustainable road financing initiative in Zambia as outlined in the road maintenance strategy.