By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE  –
SENIOR Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people of Luapula has commended the Government for championing the development of the road network in the province.
Meanwhile, The Mwata has told the Road Development Agency (RDA) that he is disappointed with the quality of road works on the Mansa-Kashikishi Road.
The traditional leader told the RDA delegation led by board chairperson, Samuel Mukupa when they paid a courtesy call on him at his palace at the weekend that he was happy that the Government had continued working on upgrading roads for easy mobility of the people.
He said the opening of the road network under the Link Zambia 8,000 in the province? would enhance business activities within Zambia and neighbouring countries.
Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe said it was good that the Government was working on upgrading roads ?which would connect the province to neighbouring countries as this would increase economic activities which would create wealth.
He said it was good that the RDA had embarked on working on several roads despite erratic funding which at times delayed the implementation of various projects.
“On the roads, the Government has started working very well except that the funding is erratic but the most important is starting,” he said.
He appealed to the Government to speed up the works and finish the projects within the stipulated schedule.
Mwata Kazembe expressed concern that the Mansa-Kashikishi Road had started showing signs of damage a year after the contractor finished the works.
“Our road from Mansa to Kashikishi?, the contractor did not do a good job. The road has within a year started being destroyed.
“There is something wrong with our Zambian engineers that certify that the road is okay and that these people should be paid.? We should not be wasting money when the Government has no money in its coffers,” he said.
RDA chief executive officer Kanyuka Mumba said the agency would address the concerns raised by the traditional ruler regarding the Mansa-Kashikishi Road.
“The concerns raised by The Mwata are genuine, the road as you can see is due for full rehabilitation but due to lack of funds we only did periodical maintenance in 2013 instead of full rehabilitation,” Mr Mumba said.
He said the agency was aware that most of the roads required full rehabilitation as they had now reached full design life.
Mr Mukupa told the traditional ruler that a number of roads in Luapula Province had been earmarked for rehabilitation works.
He said as a new district, Mwasabombwe ?would have a number of roads being worked on both under the Link Zambia 8000 and the Pave Zambia projects, which catered for township roads.
Mr Mukupa said the Government had already mobilised funds and road works would continue being implemented in the province and other parts of the country.