By KAIKO NAMUSA –

MORE than 1,000 jobs have been created in Western Province under the ongoing construction of various roads in the province, President Michael Sata has said.

Mr Sata said the construction of key roads such as the K1.4 billion Mongu-Kalabo Road, which had triggered the creation of 1,118 jobs to date, would stimulate economic activities in the province and, therefore, create job opportunities for the people.

President Sata posted on his Facebook page yesterday that a total of 1, 713 jobs created in Western Province were as a result of road works covering a distance of 680.80 kilometres of roads, at a cost of K1.8 billion.

Giving an update on Government’s progress on the construction of selected road works within and around the province, Mr Sata said once the construction works of the Mongu-Kalabo Road was completed, it would give testimony to Government’s determination and resolve to take development to all parts of the country.

“Once completed the Mongu-Kalabo will be an awesome sight and a testimony of my administration’s determination and resolve to take development to all parts of the country. As I have repeatedly said, Zambia will never be the same again,” Mr Sata said.

“I urge you all to take time and visit the construction site whenever you are in Western Province so that you can have first hand appreciation of what your dedicated Government is doing to improve rural livelihood”.

The construction works being undertaken in Western Province include engineering, design and construction of the Mongu-Kalabo Road, which was progressing at 48 per cent.

There is also the upgrading and re-alignment of the M10 Road, from Senanga to Sesheke, covering a stretch of 70 kilometres, with the works completed at 100 per cent.

The other works were the construction of a bridge across the Zambezi River at Sioma/Maziba crossing, where the contractor was mobilising equipment.

Mr Sata also cited the machine embankment works which were ongoing, and the periodic maintenance of 87.2 kilometres of the Kaoma-Mongu M009 Road, from Tateyoyo Gate to Katundu/Lukulu Road, with works progressing at 24 per cent.

The other part of the works was the periodic maintenance of 175.8 kilometres of the Kaoma-Mongu Road, from Katundu/Lukulu Road to Mongu, with works on-going at 75 per cent progress, as well as emergency repairs of the Ikwinchi culvert on Limulunga Usha Road at 90 per cent progress rate.