By JAMES MUYANWA –
THE Government will not spend any dollar on the recently-launched Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway, Finance Minister Felix Mutati has said.
Mr Mutati said this was because the two-phased project would be carried out under the Public Private Initiative and private sector participation, respectively.
He said this yesterday in his 2018 National Budget presentation speech to Parliament.
With a lot of emphasis on the issue which has raised dust among critics and supporters of the Government ‘duelling’ over the cost implications of the project, Mr Mutati said the Government would not spend any funds on the project.
“Let me repeat, the Government will not spend a dollar on the project,” he said amid heightened shouts of yea, yea from Patriotic Front (PF) members of Parliament.
Mr Mutati said the project would be carried out in two phases.
“Phase-One will be the construction of the dual carriageway, while phase II will involve the construction of auxiliary infrastructure which, include hotels, tollgates and service stations,” the minister said.
He said the first phase would be financed through Public Private Initiatives while the second one would be done with the private sector participation.
Mr Mutati said that in 2018, the Government would continue with the ongoing road infrastructure projects, including the Link Zambia 8,000, the Lusaka 400 and the Copperbelt 400.
To reduce congestion in Lusaka, the US$240 million Lusaka City Traffic Decongestion Project financed by cooperating partners would commence in 2018.
He said the Government was happy that the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) had decided to invest in the rehabilitation of the Chingola-Solwezi Road at a cost of K2.1 billion.
“Recovery of the invested funds will be through revenue from toll gates to be constructed on the road. I encourage other pension funds to take up the challenge to diversify their investment portfolio through such arrangements,” he said.
Mr Mutati said that the National Road Tolling programme proved to be successful in raising revenue for road maintenance and rehabilitation.
In the first eight months of 2017, the Government raised K490.5 million.
In that regard, he said, the Government would in 2018 continue constructing tollgates across the country.
He said to further diversify sources of financing for infrastructure development, the Government would next year set up an Infrastructure Development Fund.
This will be financed through proceeds from the sale of Government assets, pension fund participation and the sale of infrastructure bonds.
In the railway transport, the Government will revitalise the Zambia Railways Limited, concession the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority and, through a Public Private Partnership arrangement, develop the Chipata-Petauke-Serenje railway line.
Modernisation of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport is expected to be completed in 2018.
Mr Mutati said the Government would invest in the upgrading of the telecommunications networks, data centres and access devices through the Smart Zambia Master Plan.