By XAVIER MANCHISHI –
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has disclosed that a total of 2,769 jobs have so far been created during the on-going construction works of the 991-kilometre of roads in Lusaka.
President Sata said the jobs were created as of December last year during the on-going road works within the capital city which is costing Government K1.3 million.
Mr Sata said on his Facebook page that construction of selected roads in and around Lusaka was aimed at establishing an enabling environment to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and stimulate local investment.
“Good Morning Friends, Today, I wish to share with you our Government’s progress on the construction of selected road works within our capital city of Lusaka, which is aimed at establishing an enabling investment climate in order to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), stimulate local investments and create jobs,” Mr Sata said in his post.
The President said progress on the works done so far included upgrading to bituminous standard of 43 kilometres of the Leopards Hill Road from State Lodge to Katoba Basic School, which is 95.6 per cent complete.
The construction of the 50 kilometres of various internal roads of the Lusaka South Multi-facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) stands at 90.5 per cent while the rehabilitation of the Lusaka-Chirundu Road is at 95 per cent.
Mr Sata disclosed that the construction of Chiawa Bridge across the Kafue River was also nearing completion with a progress report of 80 per cent while upgrading to bituminous standard of about 91 kilometres of D145 from Great East Road at Luangwa Bridge to Feira is at 38 per cent.
The President further said the upgrading of Kasisi to Ngwerere Basic School Road was at 25 per cent while the engineering design, rehabilitation and construction of about 360 kilometres of selected Lusaka urban roads was also on-going.
“I am determined to see our people’s living standards improve through our Government’s implementation of sound and practical economic policies, including the efficient delivery of road infrastructure,” Mr Sata said.
The President promised that during the course of the month, he would give further updates on the progress of various road projects being undertaken province by province to give a country-wide picture.
“As servants of the people it is our duty to report back on how your resources are being utilised by action-oriented Government. I thank you,” Mr Sata said.
In September last year, President Sata launched the biggest road construction project dubbed the Link Zambia-8000 with an estimated cost of K31.42 billion.
The project, also known as the Accelerated National Roads Construction Programme, was initiated to accelerate road construction in the country through the Road Development. Agency (RDA) with a view to transforming Zambia into a land-linked country in Southern African.
The President also launched the Pave Zambia 2000 and Lusaka 400 road projects aimed upgrading township roads across the country, particularly the capital city.
