. Mukupa

By SYLVESTER MWALE  –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says he is impressed with the ongoing works on the Mansa-Luwingu Road by China Henan but urged the contractor to employ more women on the project.
Mr Lungu also warned that speed must not compromise quality of work on the 175-kilometre stretch because he would not take kindly if cracks emerged soon after completion.
The Head of State was speaking when he inspected the road project where he was informed by Bari Zambia resident engineer Monjit Saha that the contractor was ahead of schedule in the project.
The Mansa-Luwingu Road is a 40-month road project worth more than US$209.9 million, which also included the tarring of 30 kilometres of township roads in the Northern Province district.
“I am glad we are ahead of schedule but sometimes speed can compromise quality works, so I hope there will be no cracks after finishing.
“You should also employ more women, the ones you have are not enough; you know when women get paid they will take care of the family,” President Lungu said.
He also emphasised the need to guard against thefts of building materials, particularly cement which he said was being stolen from road projects and sold cheaply on the market.
RDA Board chairperson Samuel Mukupa, who accompanied the President, said China Henan had demonstrated commitment towards work and social responsibility programmes in the area.
Mr Mukapa said the company had adopted with ease the Government’s robust road programmes under the Link Zambia 8000 and Pave Zambia 2000 projects.
He said the company had engaged women in road safety as well as economics to improve their well-being.
Earlier, Mr Saha told the President that the project would be completed by June next year, more than six months ahead of schedule.